On the heels of last weekend’s season openers in Boise and Seattle, the men’s and women’s track and field teams are once again gearing up to travel. The squad will compete in New York City at the high-profile New Balance Armory Invitational Friday and Saturday.

“The quality of the New York meet will be a whole lot better,” head women’s coach Edrick Floreal said. “There will be much more excitement, times will be a lot faster.”

Head men’s coach Robert Weir shared the same sentiment.

“It’s going to be a lot better,” Weir said. “A very exciting track meet.”

Weir plans to take primarily his middle distance and distance runners, along with a small group off throwers, sprinters and pole vaulters. Weir had only positive things to say about redshirt freshman thrower Mike Macellari and freshman sprinter Wopamo Osaisai, who will travel with the team this weekend.

Freshman pole vaulter Graeme Hoste will also travel to New York, where he will be tested against a higher level of competition.

“Hoste had such a splendid showing in Seattle,” Weir said. “We’ll see how he does at this next meet.”

Senior sprinters Curtis Goehring and Nick Sebes are also expected to do well this weekend. They are the strengths of Stanford’s 4x400 meter relay, which placed second last weekend at the BodyBuilding.com Invitational.

The focus will be on the men’s middle distance and distance runners, who are some of the best in the country.

Floreal will take all of his top athletes to New York. He is hoping the examples of junior Anita Siraki and freshman Erica McClain last weekend will be motivation for the women to reach the highest levels of excellence at the Armory Invitational.

The strong group of Cardinal sprinters is expected to continue its success from last weekend. Sophomores Janice Davis, Ashley Purnell and Ashley Freeman, senior Christine Moschella and junior Nashonme Johnson all ran well at Boise State and will travel to New York this weekend.

The women’s team will take a handful of distance runners to the Armory.

“We’re taking people from the East coast to give them a chance to compete in front of their families,” women’s head coach Dena Evans said.

That includes sophomore Arianna Lambie, who will make her 2005 debut after a spectacular freshman season.

“We’re really looking forward to seeing her get her uniform on,” Evans said.

Freshman Lauren Centrowitz, who finished 14th at the Pac-10 Cross Country Championships during the fall, will also make the trip.

“This will give Lauren the opportunity to run in a very good collegiate field,” Evans said.

The Armory Track and Field Center is located in the Washington Heights district of Manhattan. The New Balance Collegiate Invitation has been held there for the past five years.

In 2001, Alan Webb broke a high school indoor record at the Armory, running the mile in under four minutes.