EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – Competing for the first time in 2013, the SIUE men's and women's track & field teams will hit the road for back-to-back indoor meets this weekend.

The Cougars will travel to Columbia, Mo. on Friday for the Missouri Invitational before heading east to Champaign, Ill. for the Illini Classic on Saturday.

"This is the first time we've ever competed in back-to-back meets like this," Head Coach Kareem Jackson said.  "To go to an SEC school and then a Big Ten school in two days will show us where we're at, and I like our chances."

This weekend will serve as the team's first competition in more than a month after SIUE kicked off the indoor season Dec. 8 at the Saluki Fast Start in Carbondale.

At the event, sophomore Jatavia Wright became the women's program record holder in the long jump (19 feet, 0.5 inches), breaking the previous record of 19-0 set by Christine Butler in 2008.

For the men, junior Braxton Klavins (1:21.67), senior Marc Presley (1:22.08), and junior Josh Thomas (1:23.48) finished 1-2-3, respectively, in the 600 meters.

Jackson also mentioned sophomores La'Derrick Ward and Ahmad Evans for the men, along with senior captain Colleen McDonough for the women, as key contributors who will look to lead the team in 2013.

"This weekend is crucial in terms of our preparation for both OVC and National Championships," Jackson added.  "We'll have some ups and downs this season, but it's finally our turn to show what we can do at the Division I level."

Friday's meet at Missouri is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m., while Saturday's action at Illinois is set to start at 9 a.m.