LAKE CHARLES – The McNeese track and field team has released its winter and spring schedule for the upcoming season highlighted by two home indoor meets followed by two outdoor home events.
 
The Pokes will kick off the indoor season on January 6 when they participate in the LSU Purple Tiger Invite in Baton Rouge before coming home to host the first of two indoor meets on Friday, Jan. 13 in Lake Charles.
 
After participating in the Samford Multis in Birmingham, Ala., on January 18-19, McNeese will host its second indoor meet at the McNeese State Invite on Friday, Jan. 27.
 
The Cowboys and Cowgirls will head to Baton Rouge again on Friday, Feb. 3 to compete in the LSU Bayou Bengal Invite and at the Samford Invitational on Saturday, Feb. 11.
 
McNeese will travel to Birmingham again the following week when it participates in the Southland Conference Tournament Indoor Meet. Those who qualify for nationals will head to College Station, Texas on March 10 and 11.
 
The outdoor season will kick off with the annual McNeese Cowboy Relays on Saturday, March 11 at the McNeese Cameron Communications Track and Field Complex. The Pokes look to defend their title from last season when they took first place over Northwestern State and ULM.
 
Following the season opener, McNeese will travel to Lafayette to participate in the ULL Invite on Saturday, March 18 and follows up with a meet at Rice on March 24-25.
 
The team will split into three groups and will participate at Texas, Texas State and Stanford on March 31 and April 1.
 
The Pokes will host their second meet of the season on Saturday, April 8 when they welcome teams from all over for the McNeese Spring Time Classic. Last spring, the men took first place while the women came in second.
 
After their final home meet, the Cowboys and Cowgirls hit the road for the next two Saturday's for the Texas Invitational on April 15 before heading to Baton Rouge on April 22 to participate in the LSU Alumni meet.
 
On Saturday, April 29, McNeese travels Natchitoches to take part in the Northwestern State Invite to wrap up the regular season.
 
The Pokes will then head to New Orleans for the Southland Conference Outdoor Championships and those who qualify will head to nationals in Lexington, Kentucky two weeks later.
 
The NCAA Outdoor Championships will take place in Eugene, Oregon June 8^th-11^th.
 
2016 McNeese Track and Field    
 
Indoor
 
Jan 6^th             LSU Purple Tiger
Jan 13^th          McNeese Indoor I (College)
Jan 14^th           McNeese High School Indoor I
Jan  18/19^th   Samford Multis, Birmingham, AL    
Jan 27^th           McNeese State Invite (College)
Jan 28^th           McNeese High School Indoor II
Feb 3rd          LSU  Bayou Bengal
Feb 11^th         Samford Invitational, Birmingham, AL
Feb 22^/23^rd    Southland Conference Indoor, Birmingham, AL
Mar 10/11^th     NCAA National Indoors, College Station, TX
 
Outdoor
 
March 11^th      McNeese Cowboy Relays                               
March 18^th     ULL Invite, Lafayette, LA                              
March 24/25 Rice Victor Lopez, Houston, TX                    
Mar 31/Apr 1 Texas Relay / Texas State/Stanford         
April 8^th McNeese Spring Time Classic
April 15^th Texas Invitational, Austin, TX   / Mt Sac                                   
April 22^nd LSU Alumni, Baton Rouge, LA
April  29^th NWST Invite, Natchitoches, LA
May 12/14^th Southland Conference, New Orleans, LA
May 25/26^th NCAA East Prelim, Lexington, KY
June 8-11^th NCAA Championships, Eugene OR