Head coach Joanna Hayes may know a thing or two about championship racing.

UCLA track and field will compete in the Big Ten Indoor Track and Field Championships starting Feb. 28, with the first edition of the meet to include newly added members Oregon, Washington and crosstown rivals USC. The event also serves as Hayes’ first conference championship leading the program.

“Being able to compete at some of the Big Ten meets against some of the schools has been good preparation for us,” Hayes said. “I’m pretty excited to get out there and see where we’re at and have some fun.”

The Bruins head into the weekend holding top-25 marks nationally across multiple events, including the women’s 200-meter dash , women’s 60-meter dash, women’s 4×400-meter relay, men’s long jump and men’s distance medley relay.

Although Hayes mentioned that the Bruins currently lack the depth to fight for a team conference title, many athletes are racing for individual titles and a shot to qualify for the indoor national championships starting March 15.

For freshman sprinter Kayla McBride, her first indoor season has featured mixed results and she remains unsatisfied.

“My season started off really good, and then I was not doing good in the middle of it,” said McBride. “I’m expecting more at this meet because it’s going to be very competitive.”

UCLA’s 4×400-meter relay team currently owns the event’s sixth fastest time in the country with a 3:29.04 mark, placing the squad at the top of the Big Ten rankings. McBride, who ran a leg of the race at the Tiger Paw Invitational on Feb. 14, could make an appearance this weekend in the event.

On the distance side, freshman Andreas Dybdahl and graduate students Parker Raymond, Angus Harrington and Bennett Booth-Genthe are fresh off a school record, breaking performance in the distance medley relay Feb. 14 at the BU Last Chance Meet. Five other Big Ten schools – Illinois, Indiana, Oregon, Wisconsin and world record holders in the event Washington – all stand ahead of UCLA in the national rankings, showcasing the depth of the conference in the event.

“It’s very competitive in the Big Ten,” Dybdahl said. “If you place well in the Big Ten, you’re one of the fastest guys in the country.”

For both McBride and Dybdahl, the competition marks their first ever collegiate conference meet as Bruins. Both have set indoor personal bests throughout the season and have contributed to their relay teams.

“Being a freshman, I want to be confident on the start line, trust my fitness and try and hang with these guys, ” Dybdahl said. “If I’m with them, I know I’m on a fast time and I know (we’ll) be able to place.”

As UCLA navigates the fresh waters of the Big Ten, a sense of excitement surrounds the team. The season has presented new school and personal records for athletes across the roster, and the Bruins could continue the progress they’ve manifested throughout the season.

“I’m in a great position where I have a team who are motivated and who work really hard,” Hayes said. “As long as they all show up and do their best, I’m going to feel very successful.”

Action will kick off Friday morning at the Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center in Indianapolis, Indiana.