Lubbock, TX (U-WIRE) -- Deer hunting season is over -- at least, track and field coach Wes Kittley said it is.

With the second meet of the indoor season approaching this weekend, Kittley has the team focused on meet-by-meet improvement.

"I think you'll see us at every meet get better and better," Kittley said. "That's what I'm really looking for."

He said experience is the best teacher of all when it comes to racing.

"They had the deer-in-the-headlights look on their faces last week," Kittley said. "Experience is such a big deal. It really just comes with the territory."

The second meet brings an experience the first was lacking. Many athletes, like Tori Polk, focus on just getting back into the feel of racing their first meet.

"The first meet is a point of figuring out where I was," Polk said. "This one's just to tune and get past that hump."

Polk said she is working on getting back into race shape.

"It's just going to take many weekends to get back in shape," Polk said. "I'm thinking about long jump; I'd like to jump further."

Polk may be thinking about racing shape, but another athlete is focused on Kittley's experience idea. His confidence has come with training this year.

Tyree Gailes, a sprinter, said he currently is ranked in one of the polls, which has surprised people.

After missing part of last year's season because of injury, Gailes said he is focused on starting this season off right.

"I'm just going to run a faster time," Gailes said. "Everything else is kind of working out for me right now. They just want me to focus on the time."

This weekend, Gailes said he will run the 200-meter dash. He said he is focused on changing the rankings.

Kittley said even having Gailes on the track at this point in the season is an improvement.

"Tyree has come into this year with a tremendous amount of confidence," Kittley said. "I'm excited to see what comes out of him this year."

Another Red Raider with big expectations is Jonathan Johnson.

Johnson did not compete last weekend, but said he is looking to get back on the track this weekend.

"I just want to come out and get back into the routine of racing," Johnson said. "I've been training hard this fall."

Johnson said he has not competed since August, but the nervousness has not crept up on him yet.

"This is not a pressure meet like the Olympics are," he said, "and I usually look at this like a time to get another practice in."

The Wes Kittley Classic and Masters meet will be held in the Athletic Training Center, with field events beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday and running events beginning at 12:30 p.m.

(C) 2004 University Daily via U-WIRE