All season, the Binghamton track and field teams have been trying to see how they match up against the competition. This weekend’s America East Conference Outdoor Track Championships at UMBC will show just how good they really are.

Although there are several athletes whose seasons continue after the meet, this is the true test for the team. The Bearcats brought in fourth place finishes on both the men’s and the women’s side in the indoor season, and although those are good results, there is room for improvement. Coach Mike Thompson said he thinks the team will have a result of anywhere from third to sixth, which shows the competitiveness of the conference.

On the men’s side this weekend, one can expect a big performance from pole-vaulting All-American Rory Quiller, who has received Conference Athlete of the Meet several times in his career, including at the AE indoor championships. He has already reached the qualifying height for the regional meet this season, but more importantly, he broke his personal record at the last conference meet and then again at the NCAAs, which goes to show that he is at his best when he needs to be. Along with a first place finish from Quiller and the 10 points that go along with it, the pole vault could get additional lift from Chris Yelverton, who placed first at Cornell last weekend.

Other points from the field should come from the big men, throwers Kevin Hall and Justin Halleck. They have been consistently pulling in small points all season, but last week Hall placed first in the shot put and fifth in the hammer. Halleck also stepped his game up, having third place finishes in both the shot put and the hammer. If these results could be repeated, the throwers alone would take home more than 20 points.

The men will be no less abundant on the track. Jimmy Massar has seemed to peak at the right time as well, placing first last weekend. He is also part of the men’s relay teams, which have a good chance for points. Adam Goldberg, another member of the relays, looks to place in the 110-hurdles.

The women’s side will likely focus on the track, led by Kim Williams, who has been tearing up the track this season and is looking to be part of a possible 40-point day. She has had top finishes in four events this season: the 100-meter dash, the 200-meter dash, the 4×100 relay and the 4×400 relay.

On the field side, the pole vault should also be strong for those Bearcats with two X chromosomes. Katie Wilmer has been great, having a first place finish last week. Carly Gross and Kiki Gifft also placed in the event.

Also in the women’s field, triple jumper Dayna Johnson looks to repeat last week’s performance in which she qualified for the regional meet and beat her personal best by nine inches. Johnson was missed at the indoor meet due to injury.

The team looks to improve on the winter results of fourth place.