Joe Neff admitted that his Sac State track and field team is one that is better suited for the outdoors.

But in this past weekend?s McDonalds Scoring Invitational in Moscow, Idaho, the Hornets showed that they are capable of competing under a roof.

Fourteen Sac State individuals were added to the Big Sky Conference Indoor Championships qualifying list with their performances at the University of Idaho?s Kibbie Dome. The overall team standings were not available at press time.

Eleven clubs from the Big Sky, Big West and Pac-10 Conferences were present at the dome?s 290-meter, unbanked, polyurethane track.

“Overall, I was really pleased with both (men?s and women?s) teams,” Neff said. “We had very high placements against very good (competition). Comparing this same meet with this year and last year?s, I?d say that we did 50 percent better this year.”

Dustin Diaz was the Hornets? highest placer, as his 1:54.07 time in the 800-meter run was the second fastest in the event.

Already on board for the conference meet, slated for Feb. 23 and 24 at Bozeman, Mont., are Karen Trapani, Charles Amey and Jonathon Davis.

Trapani, a senior, topped her previous qualifying mark in the triple jump on Saturday. Her 37-8 3/4-inch leap, good enough for seventh place, surpassed her season best (37-3) achieved in the Wolf Pack Invitational last weekend. The senior also competed in the long jump, where she finished 11th with a leap of 17-7.

Shanita Bryant had some success in the sand pit, as well. She earned a conference-meet bid with an 18-8 mark for fifth place in the women?s long jump.

Amey eclipsed his season-best qualifying mark (7.79 seconds) in the 55-meter high hurdles, clocking in at 7.75 on Saturday. Davis, a sophomore, ran a 6.90 sprint in the 60-meter dash for sixth place. Teammate Lloyd Jackson joined Davis in the event and the conference meet, crossing the finish line one spot behind at 7.00.

“Several more people made it (to the Big Sky Championships) and previous marks were improved. There were a lot of bright spots for us,” Neff said. “But we?re a much better outdoor team than indoor.

“We use this in preparation for the outdoor season. We should be running, throwing, and jumping our best in April when we need to be.”

Windi Selle, another Hornet qualifier, had an impressive showing in the Invitational?s first event: the women?s weight toss. Selle took eighth with a 49-7 toss in a field of 31 participants.

Myesha Kirtman, a senior, had a busy weekend, as she garnered qualifying Big Sky Championship bids in three events. She joined forces with Joni David, Nikkita Moorer, and Shanita Reed in the 4×400-meter relay and notched a fifth-place finish in 3:57.83. Kirtman also qualified in the 55-meter hurdles (8.38, sixth) and the 60-meter dash (7.86, ninth).

Representing Sac State?s women?s distance corps, Melissa Madeson came up with two qualifying times in the 3,000-meter and one-mile runs. The junior took third in the 3,000 meters, with a 10:04.81 and fourth in the mile with a 5:10.04.

“We?re very pleased with Melissa Madeson?s performance in the 3,000,” Neff said. “It was actually her lifetime best, indoor or outdoor, for her.”

Rokeem Osby topped off the high-jump markings at 6-8 3/4 for a third-place finish. Kenan Smith led the men?s contingent with qualifying marks in the 400-meter dash (49.78, fifth) and the 4×400 relay. Brent Sims, Shawn Hooper and Gerald Franks aided Smith, who anchored the event?s fifth-place quartet that clocked in at 3:18.57.

Howard Story ran the 800-meter race, but he didn?t qualify with his 1:55.76 (eighth-place) finish.

Sac State will round out the indoor season?s qualifiers on Saturday at the Holiday Inn Classic in Reno, Nev.