A pair of nationally-recognized meets in out-of-state locations are in the spotlight for Big West Track & Field this weekend. The competitions are part of a light slate of events due to the upcoming Easter Weekend.

Cal State Northridge is one of the clubs heading off to an out-of-state locale as the Matadors travel to Austin, Texas for the 83rd annual Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays on the campus of the University of Texas. The competition is the centerpiece of a track festival which attracts over 50,000 visitors from around the globe for four days. Former Longhorns coach Clyde Littlefield and UT athletics director Theo Bellmont started a men’s-only meet in 1925. Women’s events were added in 1963, and the event has continued to grow into the second-largest track meet in the United States.

Meanwhile, Cal State Fullerton will make the cross country trip to the Sunshine State for the 71st annual Florida Relays in Gainesville, Fla., hosted by the University of Florida. The Relays, which were started by former legendary Gator coach Percy Beard, has grown from a small regional competition back in the 1930s, to one of the nation’s premier track & field meets that attracts over 3,000 athletes from the high school, collegiate and international ranks.

Back on the home front, Cal Poly will host a meet of its own in the Cal Poly Invitational. The one-day meet will take place on Saturday and will have another Big West team in the field as UC Santa Barbara comes up the 101 to take part in the competition. Two other squads will be in action as UC Davis heads to the Johnny Mathis Invitational in San Francisco and UC Irvine heads to the Cal State San Marcos Invitational in San Marcos.

Martinez Sets Standard Early: Brenda Martinez of UC Riverside came out of the gates smoking in her first 800 of the 2010 season, running a 2:04.76 to win the event at the ASU Invitational. The time not only gave her first place in the event, but is the fastest time in the NCAA so far this season. Martinez, who finished second at the NCAA Championships in the 800 a year ago, is one of the early favorites for the 800 crown at the NCAA Championships this year.

Jock Blazes Way Into Record Books...Again: A week ago, UC Irvine's Charles Jock ran the second-best 800 in school history behind only the legendary Steve Scott. Scott’s mark finally fell last weekend as Jock establised a new standard in the event with a time of 1:47.46 at the Cal/Nevada Championships. Scott’s record of 1:47.60 had stood for 32 years.

CSUN Women Win Cal/Nevada Crown: Cal State Northridge picked up an impressive early season victory as the Matador women won the Cal/Nevada Championships for the first time since 2002. The club won just one individual title (Lilyana Morejon - 10K), but scored well in the other events to claim the crown. CSUN is the four-time defending Big West champion on the women’s side.

O'Boyle to Enter Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame: UC Irvine head track and field/cross country coach Vince O’Boyle has been selected for induction into the Mt. SAC Relays Hall of Fame. O’Boyle will be inducted along with two-time Olympic medalist John Godina (throws) and Toby Stevenson, the 2004 Olympic silver medalist in the pole vault. The induction ceremony will take place at the 52nd annual Mt. SAC Relays Banquet at the Pacific Palms Conference Resort in the City of Industry April 14 at 6:00 p.m. O’Boyle has been involved with the Mt. SAC Relays for the past 47 years, first as a runner for Monrovia High School in 1963 and later for Citrus College and Cal Poly Pomona, and as a coach at Citrus College and UCI.

UCR's Martinez Lands on Bowerman List: UC Riverside's Brenda Martinez landed on the watch list for The Bowerman, the award handed out by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association recognizing the track athlete of the year on both the men’s and women’s side. Martinez finds herself on the also receiving mention portion of the preseason list, meaning she can move up to the primary watch list at any point in the season. Martinez is the Big West record holder in the 800 and 1500 and completed a whirlwind summer circuit which saw her compete in six races across Europe.