STARKVILLE - Mississippi State is well known for its men's sprinters, but second-year coach Steve Dudley is trying to bring some of his other athletes out from the speedsters' shadow.

Today provides a good opportunity for the Bulldogs to show out in the field events. MSU is hosting the second annual SEC/Big 10 Challenge at the Carl Maddox Track Facility, the second event of the outdoor season for State.

"Every event area is obviously important, and we're trying to do a better job of trying to get some talent in every event area," Dudley said. "I think sometimes maybe (field) gets overlooked because it's harder to sit in the stands and see what's going on with the field events, compared to what's going on with track events.

"Usually you watch a track event, and the first one to cross that line wins."

Some Bulldogs to watch in the field events include high jumpers Marcus Jackson and James Harris, decathlete Trevarus Christian and shot put thrower Ed Wesela. Jackson and Wesela both took first place last week at the Louisiana Classics meet.

The sprinters, of course, are expected to still be very good. It's an experienced group that includes Daundre Barnaby, D'Angelo Cherry and Tavaris Tate. They're a big reason MSU enters the meet ranked 14th in the country.

The competition will be stiff today. The other seven teams competing are Ole Miss, Tennessee, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Purdue and Wisconsin. Indiana's men are ranked eighth, while Wisconsin is 19th, Ole Miss is 21st and Ohio State is 25th.

brad.locke@journalinc.com