Several members of the Syracuse University track and field teams will travel to New York, N.Y. to compete in the BIG EAST Indoor Championships on Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 20-21. Qualifiers include Melissa Romero, Corey Robinson, and Trevor Wiseman. 

Senior Melissa Romero competed in the high jump multiple times this season and earned her BIG EAST qualifying mark at the Syracuse Invite. Romero took second in that event with a mark of 1.68m. She won the high jump event in all of the other four meets she competed in this season. The Wilmington, Del. Native also participated in the long jump event at the Binghamton Triangular, where she placed ninth.

On her previous BIG EAST Championship experiences:
"I've competed at the Big East Championships since my freshman year. I've found that for the indoor Big East Championship, the atmosphere is completely different than those of regular season meets. At least for the field team, it's usually the first time that season that we compete against other Big East teams. It can be intimidating, but really inspiring at the same time. It's at this meet where the best of the conference get to compete against each other, so you have to give it your all."

On the difficulty of the indoor season:
"There were only five regular season meets before Big East this year, so there is that pressure to do well right away, although we can't always expect that since we're still training hard in practices and sometimes through meets."

On her goals for the meet:
"It's always great to score points for the team at Big East, even if it's just one or two. You never know how that could help our team."

On the best piece of advice she has been given heading into this competition:
"The best advice my coach has told me is that sometimes I just have to calm my mind and just jump. Many, if not all, track events are extremely mental. So if you think about your run, jump, or throw too much, it can backfire. Being able to clear my mind and telling myself to just do it helps me."

Junior Corey Robinson attained BIG EAST qualifying standards in two events during the 2009-2010 indoor season. He placed second in the mile run at the SU Welcome Back with a time of 4:15.62, propelling the Rochester, N.Y. native into the post-season. Robinson also ran the 3,000-meter at the Terrier Invite in a team best, qualifying time of 8:07.31, finishing third.

On his previous BIG EAST Championship experiences:
"I have been before. I went to indoor's my freshman year and was an alternate for cross country Big East's in 2008. The atmosphere is different because of the team scoring aspect. That is unique to the meet. People aren't always out to run the distance races fast, they are out there to win, or at least score. It makes for a unique atmosphere."

On the difficulty of the indoor season:
"I think that indoor standards may be tougher for some because the standards are pretty quick, and must be gotten off of only a couple races in January and early February."

On his goals for the meet:
"I'm hoping to score and get some significant points for the team. My training has been great and I want to keep some success rolling into outdoor."

On the best piece of advice he has been given heading into this competition:
"As for Big East this year, we have been talking about patience for the first half of the 3k, and then being ready to roll when someone makes a move. The 3k at conference is typically a kickers' race so you have to be ready to change gears fast."

Graduate student Trevor Wiseman completed his undergraduate career at Loyola Marymount and is currently in his first season at Syracuse. The Torrance, Calif. native earned BIG EAST a qualifying time in the mile run at both the SU Welcome Back and the Terrier Invite. Wiseman took home the mile title at the Welcome Back meet with a time of 4:15.40. He finished 16th at the Terrier Invite with his team's season best time of 4:11.54.

On his previous BIG EAST Championship experiences:
"I have never competed at the Big East championships before. I am a graduate student and this is my first season with Syracuse, but I have raced in championship atmospheres before. This is what we train for. In track, nothing matters but the post-season. All the other meets are practice."

On the difficulty of the indoor season:
"I would say what makes indoor more difficult in terms of qualifying for post-season championships is the season is shorter, which means you have less time to hit the qualifying times to make Big East. You really have only one or two chances to make post-season and in outdoor you have several opportunities."

On his goals for the meet:
"My goal is only for the team to do well. I truly believe we can win. Personally, my goal is do my best to help achieve our team goal, to win."

On the best piece of advice he has been given heading into this competition:
"To be patient and make smart moves during the race."