Collegians Flock To New Balance Invitational

If you long to see a national collegiate indoor track & field event, there is no greater opportunity than the New Balance Collegiate Invitational, scheduled for Feb. 3-4 at The Armory's New Balance Track & Field Center. Coach Norm Ogilvie of Duke doesn't hold back, saying, "We view the NBCI as the very best regular season meet on the collegiate schedule."

The meet has grown from a largely regional meet at its inception in 2001 to a truly national field of incredible talent. And this year will be no different as The Armory's Director of Collegiate Track & Field Jack Pfeifer has already received intentions to compete from more than 40 colleges, including the likes of Arkansas, Baylor, BYU, Central Florida, UConn, Duke, Georgetown, Kansas, LSU, Princeton, South Carolina, Southern Cal, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M and Villanova.

"We are proud to have made the New Balance Collegiate Invitational into the preeminent meet of the college indoor season," said Pfeifer. "Six months prior to next year's meet, we already had commitments from many of the nation's leading teams. We're glad they want to come to New York for the meet, and thrilled to death to have them. The 2012 edition should be another knockout meet."

It's a knockout for a few reasons. The coaches love the Invitational because it tests athletes in preparation for season-ending championships. Athletes love it for the atmosphere and the fast times.

Texas A&M Jessica Beard, the 2011 NCAA 400m champion — "I always enjoy New York, and not just outside around the city, but inside the Armory and the atmosphere it creates. The crowd here reminds me of being in Eugene for an outdoor meet. Everybody cheers for everybody here whether they know you or not."

Hometown hero Natasha Hastings, after winning for South Carolina in 2007 — "That was a lifetime best for me. Coming back home, I wanted to put on a show. My whole family is here. This is really exciting because I got my start here (at The Armory Track) when I was nine."

Duke Coach Norm Ogilvie — "Duke comes to the NBCI each year for several reasons. First and foremost is the great competitive opportunities for our athletes against the top programs in the country. Competing with the best has given us the ability to see ourselves as capable of being one of the best. Secondly, the meet is in New York City and the tradition of The Armory makes it easy to get fired up for the special efforts required to win there. It is a showcase for both our current athletes and alumni, who turn out year after year for the NBCI to see and support the program. Finally it is a recruiting platform, where we can compete in the same meet as top high school athletes, all eager to show college programs how good they are."

LSU Coach Dennis Shaver — "This will be our first true test ... to see how everyone responds to the distractions that go along with a meet like this ... It's a production. There will be a lot of noise. It'll be jam packed with people. It'll be an exciting meet for the athletes."

Arkansas Coach Lance Harter — "NBCI and Jack Pfeifer always provide an opportunity to have great competitors meet on a fast Mondo track that surely will guarantee quality results AND as an extra benefit you have an opportunity to have many of our athletes experience New York City for the very first time. NBCI is always a meet that is a highlight for our elite athletes."

You simply can't simulate New York or The Armory.