The OU track and field team will face some potential NCAA championship competitors when it competes in the New Balance Collegiate Invitational this weekend in New York City.

The New Balance invitational has a history of foreshadowing national champions. The Texas A&M women placed first last year and went on to win the national championship. The meet will feature more than 200 teams from around the country.

“The most prominent schools at the meet will probably be LSU, Tennessee and Texas A&M,” head coach Martin Smith said.

A sprinter to watch for the Sooners is sophomore Mookie Salaam. Salaam recently placed second in the 200-meter dash at the Texas A&M Invitational with a personal best time of 21.11.

Salaam said one of his toughest rivals at the meet runs for Texas A&M, junior Curtis Mitchell. Texas A&M is ranked by the NCAA as the top indoor track and field team on both the men’s and the women’s sides.

Another Sooner to look out for is senior Scottesha Miller, who recently placed first in the women’s 60-meter dash and fourth in the 200-meter sprint at the Razorback Invitational.

Junior Ronnie Ash is a current NCAA Champion in hurdles and placed second in the 60-meter hurdles at the Razorback Invitational.

Because the J.D. Martin Invitational was canceled due to weather last weekend, Smith said he replaced the meet with a practice.

“Our short sprinters are focusing on technique work and the technical sprints of hurdling,” Smith said. “Distance Runners are putting in anywhere from 70 to 100 miles per week.”

Salaam said the practice was very beneficial.

“[The practice] gives you energy you’re not able to get by yourself,” Salaam said.

The OU throwers will be traveling to another event this weekend. Several of them will compete in the Frank Sevigne Husker Invitational in Lincoln, Neb.

Smith said the meet will help his throwers maintain their skills after being forced to skip a meet.

“It fits with what they are trying to do in their plan,” Smith said.

Both the New Balance Collegiate Invitational and the Husker Invitational will meet all day Friday and Saturday.

Look out for: Freshmen thrower Karen Shump

Shump threw a 55-3.75 in the shot put at the Texas A&M Invitational, winning the event. She is also an Academic All-American.