IRVINE, CA --- Although its throwers got off to an early start at the Northern Arizona University Lumberjack Invitational, Concordia's men's and women's indoor track and field teams officially begin their season with the CU Open Invitational this Saturday (Jan. 30), at 12:30 p.m.

This weekend's meet will feature at least five Golden State Athletic Conference programs, highlighted by the seven-time NAIA champion and three-time defending champion men of Azusa Pacific. The Cougar women have finished as the NAIA runner-up two years in a row, and have two NAIA titles to their credit.

GSAC foes Biola, Vanguard and California Baptist will also join the Eagles and Cougars in Saturday's season-opener. The field events will start at 12:30 p.m. with the shot put, and the track events get underway at 1 p.m. with the Distance Medley Relay.

For Concordia and 10th-year head coach Martin Gonzalez, the 2010 season has added significance because of the recent death of 12-year assistant coach Len Blutreich in early December.

"It's our mission to dedicate this season to Coach Blu," Gonzalez said. "It's a priority to us that we show our gratefulness for the years he poured into this program, and it's a priority to keep him in mind this season."

CUI's three-man throwing team, which was assembled by the late Blutreich, posted a strong showing at the aforementioned Lumberjack Invitational Jan. 16, led by a fifth-place shot put toss of 58' 9.25 by Nick Robinson.

Robinson's performance is an automatically qualifying mark to get him to the NAIA National Championships March 4-6 in Johnson City, Tenn.

Meanwhile, Caleb McCurry threw for a distance of 50' 4.75 to nail down a "B" qualifier to the national meet, while Shane Tucker hit a mark of 48' 2.00 in his first collegiate appearance.

"We're looking forward to having a full-throttle season on and off the course," Gonzalez said. "Every individual performance is going to be counted upon, so we want to start out with a strong meet this Saturday in hopes that it will carry over into the next meet."

To view the entire schedule and information for Saturday's event, click here.