The Cougars will be vying for their sixth consecutive Conference USA indoor championship in an unfamiliar location.
For the first time, UAB will host the championship at the new Birmingham Crossplex.
The men’s team, led by Errol Nolan, who set the top time in the nation in the 400-meter dash at the Texas A&M Invitational, goes into the meet with high expectations due to its past history.
“We are going to try to get another championship and try to get higher points than the year before,” Nolan said.
Nolan said that the team is not stressed about the meet and that the atmosphere is pretty relaxed.
Nolan, who is also the C-USA leader in the 60-meter dash and 200-meter dash, will play an important role for UH.
“Personally I would like to set the tone for the team,” Nolan said.
The men’s team has won 12 times the C-USA Indoor Championships, and the women have won five times, their last in 2006.
Head coach Leroy Burrell said that the competition has gotten a lot better over the years, but the goal is to always win the championship.
“We have won more track conference championships than any other program,” said Burrell. “Our goal is to go there with a plan to put ourselves into position to win the championship, we have to put ourselves in that position to qualify from day one.”
Burrell said that the team had begun the season with that vibe, building on it throughout, and always striving for the championship.