Bulldogs Travel To Birmingham For Weekend Competition

STARKVILLE, Miss.- In what will be its first meet of the new year, Mississippi State track and field will travel to Birmingham Friday to jumpstart the indoor season at the UAB Blazer Indoor Invitational.

Anchored by All-American Jody-Ann Muir and Erica Bougard, a 2012 All-SEC Freshmen team member, the Maroon and White seek to show off talents right off the bat.

"Our athletes have been working hard to get ready for this season, so I am ready to see what we can do," coach Steve Dudley said. "We have a talented group of veterans returning, and when you combine that with the incoming athletes this year, competition should be exciting."

Friday's short trip east will be just one of numerous Birmingham ventures for the Bulldogs this season, as they will return for the Auburn Invitational on Jan. 19 and the Samford Multi Invite on Feb. 8-9.

Bougard believes the team is stronger than ever, which should help catapult MSU to top finishes throughout the year.

"We've been training very hard and have been in the weight room a lot more this year," said Bougard, who will see action in five events Friday as a pentathlete. "Everybody is excited."

After the conclusion of Friday's meet, the team will remain in Birmingham to compete at the Crimson Tide Indoor Opener on Saturday, Jan. 12. All action will take place at the Birmingham Crossplex.