FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The SIUE men's track and field team will be represented at the Arkansas Final Qualifier Friday night as sophomores Ahmad Evans and Braxton Klavins will attempt to qualify for NCAA Division I Indoor Championships.

Klavins will be competing in the men's 400 meters, which will run at approximately 6 p.m.  Evans will compete in the men's 200 meters, set to begin at 7:30 p.m.  All competition will take place inside Arkansas' Randal Tyson Track Center.

"This is an opportunity for both of these athletes to run faster than they've ever run before," Head Coach Kareem Jackson said.  "Our biggest priority is to come here and set lifetime bests.  We want to leave on a high note."

Evans and Klavins both made the podium in numerous events last weekend at the Ohio Valley Conference Indoor Championships in Charleston, Ill.

Klavins finished second in the 400m and third in the 200m, while Evans placed second in the 200m.  Both athletes were also members of the Cougars' 4x400 meter relay team that earned first place honors.

Jackson added that Friday's meet will put his athletes on a stage that will feature some of the fastest runners in the nation.

"We have to compete against the best if we want to take our program to the next level," Jackson said.  "By competing at meets like this, we take another step in putting our institution on the map nationally."

In each event, the top 16 times nationally earn the right to compete at NCAA Division I Indoor Championships, which will take place March 8-9 in Fayetteville.  As of Friday morning, the time to make in the 200m is 20.53 seconds while the time to meet in the 400m is 46.55.