EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. – The SIUE men's and women's track and field teams will hit the road once again this weekend as they travel to Allendale, Mich. for The Big Meet Invitational at Grand Valley State.

The meet will begin with the invite division Friday at 10:50 a.m.  Action will pick up again with the open division Saturday at 10 a.m.  All competition will take place in GVSU's Kelly Family Sports Complex.

"We're going to be competing at a great facility," Head Coach Kareem Jackson said.  "We haven't been to this venue in a couple years, and we expect to have success at this meet."

This weekend will serve as the Cougars' final meet before Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships Feb. 22-23 in Charleston, Ill.

Leading the way for the men's team will be sophomores La'Derrick Ward and Braxton Klavins. 

Ward was honored as the OVC Co-Male Field Athlete of the Week after breaking his own school record in the long jump with a leap of 24 feet, 1.75 inches at Southeast Missouri State last weekend. 

Klavins also impressed at SEMO, being named male athlete of the meet after finishing first in the 600 meters with a time of 1 minute, 20.06 seconds.  The time set a new facility record at SEMO's Student North Recreation Center by more than two seconds.

On the women's side, senior Aftan Noon earned women's track athlete of the meet honors last weekend after taking first place in the mile (5:16.82), 800 meters (2:24.58), and the distance medley relay (12:37.70), in which she ran the anchor leg.

SIUE's OVC rivals Murray State and Eastern Illinois will be among the 64 teams competing at this weekend's meet.

"With more than 60 teams at this meet, the competition will be second to none," Jackson added.  "We're excited to compete.  This will be a great opportunity for us to reach our full potential."