Peoria, Ill. ? The Bradley track and field team hits the road this weekend to take part in the Mike Poehlein Invitational hosted by Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind. at the Rankin Track and Field stadium.

The Mike Poehlein Invitational draws competitors from throughout the Midwest, drawing teams from the Big Ten, Big East, Horizon, Mid-Continent and Missouri Valley conferences.

The Braves are coming off of their outdoor opener at Southern Illinois that saw the mid-distance and distance runners put in solid, early-season times on which to build.

Junior Sarah Westrick (Livonia, Mich./Winston Churchill) grabbed a pair of top-10s in the 800 and 1,500 meters at SIU while junior Marcia Backstrom (Minonk, Ill./Fieldcrest) nabbed a 10^th place finish in the 5,000.  Westrick will run both the 800 and the 1,500 at Purdue while Backstrom is slated for her first go at the 1,500 meter run.

NCAA Indoor provisional qualifier in the weight throw, Jennifer Jenkins (Calumet City, Ill./Thornwood) will look to improve on a 14^th place finish at the SIU Classic in the hammer throw and a 16^th place showing in the shot put when she dons the circle at Purdue.

Members of the men's cross country team will compete for the second week in a row in the men's 5,000 meter run.  Last time out, the Braves put up impressive runs led by sophomore Chris George (Normal, Ill./University) and his 6^th place finish.  Nick Palumbo (McHenry, Ill./McHenry) was swift enough for 10^th overall at SIU, giving the Braves a pair in the top ten.

The action begins on Saturday in West Lafayette at 9:00 a.m. with the women's hammer throw.