All nine of Washington's D1/D2 schools are in action as the outdoor season goes into full swing...

WSU's Emmanuel Wells is entered in the 100, 200
and 4x100 relay at USC
(WSU Sports Information photo)

They run on a real 400 meter track.

They have tailwinds, headwinds, sidewinds, and throw on real grass, or dirt sectors.

It’s outdoor track and field season for all nine Washington Division I and Ii schools.

The D2 schools had a two week head start on the outdoor season with the Ed Boitano and the Pacific Lutheran meets, while the D1 schools go outdoors for the first time this season Friday and Saturday.

Washington and Washington State head to Los Angeles for the USC Invitational at Loker Stadium and Cromwell Field Friday and Saturday.

Friday’s action consists of the women’s and men’s hammer and discus, while the men’s and women’s steeplechases and the women’s 3000 rounds out the day’s events.  The long throws begin at noon, while the steeples and the women’s 3k gets underway at 5 pm.

The main portion of the meet starts at 10 am, and concludes around 2:30 pm, with the longest distance race being a mile.

Gonzaga and Eastern Washington will compete at the Whitworth Buc Scoring Meet on the campus of Whitworth University in Spokane Saturday.

Seattle Pacific hosts the Doris Heritage Invitational Saturday at West Seattle Stadium, featuring teams from Saint Martin’s, Western Washington, Seattle University, and a select group of athletes from the University of Washington not traveling to Los Angeles.

Central Washington will send its team to Eastern Oregon for the Eastern Oregon University Team Challenge meet in La Grange.

None of the other teams have their weekly releases or start lists posted as of 9 pm, Thursday, so please check the web sites of the listed schools for more information.

NOTE: The sports information office of Washington State University contributed to this report.