When college students hear the phrase “Spring Break in California,” many might envision days spent lounging on the sandy beach and nights of carefree debauchery. However, the men’s and women’s track teams will have a different impression of a California spring break after their two outdoor meets — the Irvine Invitational and the Titan Twilight — in the Golden State over the break.   

“It’s really a spring break training trip … some people think its ‘oh you’re going on vacation’ but when the kids get back, they know they haven’t been on vacation,” said women’s coach Lou Duesing.  

After an indoor season plagued with injuries, the men’s team expects to arrive at Irvine with a limber and healthy roster. At the conclusion of the indoor season, the Red entered Indoor Heptagonals shorthanded, with sophomore 400m defending champion Nick Huber out with a pulled hamstring. In addition, freshman Jourdan White and junior Alex Holcombe were hindered by muscle strains at Heps. 

“Going into the outdoor season we’re going to get back a couple guys whose absence really hurt us. I think Huber’s back to where he can at least train hard,” said men’s coach Nathan Taylor. 

The women’s team, expected to be healthy by Spring Break as well, fared slightly better with just one injury to sophomore thrower Erin Rossi, who injured her back earlier in the indoor season. Put your hands in the air: Senior captain Duane Teixeira jumps into the winner’s circle earlier this season at Barton Hall. - By: Lindsay Myron

As the first two meets of the outdoor season, the Irvine Invitational and Titan Twilight will serve as tune-ups for both teams, which will have to ease back into the exclusively outdoor events — including 400m hurdles, 100m dash, 3000m steeplechase and the javelin throw in the field events. Some indoor events, specifically the 60m dash and 55m hurdles, will be eliminated.  The Red plans to compete with a wide array of team members, to provide each athlete with exposure to outdoor track competition.  

“These two meets are not as much for scoring points; they’re an opportunity for the kids to train and get in some great practices … its also an opportunity to do events that aren’t done during Indoor,” Taylor said.

With that said, the Red will still look for strong performances from the usual suspects — senior captain Duane Teixera, who won both the triple and long jump at Heptagonals and sophomore Melissa Hewitt, who won the 60m dash and long jump at Heps.  

Both meets will be hosting quality track teams, as the Red looks forward to matching up against strong competition including U.C. Irvine and U.C. Riverside. The field will also include No. 20 Brigham Young, whose Cougars won an eighth straight Mountain West Conference Indoor Championship this year.  

B.Y.U. brings talent in nearly every event, led by All-American junior Leif Arrhenius, who finished fourth at the NCAA Indoor Championships in the weight throw. Sophomore Lacey Cramer, who finished second at championships in the 800m run, leads the women’s team.  

“B.Y.U. is an extremely strong team. … If it was a dual meet against them, it would be all the heat we would need,” Duesing said.