KENNESAW, Georgia - February 13, 2006 - Player after player and layer after layer of clothes hit the outdoor track this week as the Owls braved the elements in preparation of their debut at the 2006 Atlantic Sun Conference Indoor Track Championships this weekend in Johnson City, Tennessee.

Head coach Don McGarey and his squad is looking anxiously towards the meet as they will try to capture the Owls second Atlantic Sun Conference championship this year. In the fall, the Owls shocked the conference by claiming the women's cross country title.

This weekend however, the Owls will again assume the role of underdog as they compete in the two-day, 34-event championship. A favorite in the distance events, the Owls will look at a solid core of runners in both the men's and women's distance events to serve as the teams anchor.

"We have tremendous talent in the distance events," said McGarey. "And in other events we have the potential to put up some good times, but to be able to score well we are going to have to put forth a great effort."

Senior Patrina Hayes and freshman Erin Sutton lead the women's long distance runners with two of the top three times registered this season in the 3000 meters. The Kennesaw State duo trails only Tara Dressler of Campbell. Dressler ran a conference best 9:59.13 in Lynchburg, Virginia at the On Track Open in late January while Hayes ran the second fastest time, 10:08.80, in Clemson. Sutton has the league's third fastest time at 10:12.17.

Hayes is the favorite in the 5000m as she holds the conference mark this year with a time of 17:12.80, which she set at the Carolina Invitational Indoor Track and Field Meet. Hayes' time is more than thirty seconds ahead of her next closest rival, Trisha Doyle of Florida Atlantic.

In the Mile Run, Hayes and teammate Magdalena Polko are two of the four favorites in the event. Again competing with Dressler, the Owls must also contend with Florida Atlantic's Raynell Hagberg, who has the fastest time in the league this season. Her time of 4:57.68, is thirteen seconds ahead of Hayes (5:10.47) and Polko (5:10.90).

In the 60m hurdles, the Owls Lani Hammond has the second fastest time in the conference this season but will need a stellar effort to overtake her biggest rival in Yanique Booth of Florida Atlantic. Booth's best time of 8.58 is nearly half a second faster than Hammond's time of 9.48. However, Hammond's time was in the Owls first meet of the season in December.

On the men's side, the Owls will once again establish themselves as one of the top distance programs and should show well with Jason Waters and Lukasz Skrzypiec being among the conference leaders in the 5000m and the Mile Run. Joseph Mutai is also one of the A-Sun favorites in the 3000m.

The Owls also have a favorite in the 60 meter hurdles in Devin Jones. Jones has the league's top time at 8.34 and is .14 seconds ahead of Mike White of ETSU.

"This is going to be a difficult meet," said McGarey. "There are top quality athletes throughout the conference and on every team and we're no different. We have some very good athletes here and we are looking forward to a good result this weekend."