When Zach Hazen set the school record in the hammer throw last weekend at a meet in Fort Collins, he made his toss amid swirling snow flurries. Fortunately, Hazen does well in the snow, as he tossed the hammer 200 feet, 6 inches, a personal best and University of Colorado record by more than a meter.

Hazen and the rest of his CU teammates will likely need to be ready for more snow Saturday when the Buffs host the Colorado Invitational at the outdoor Potts Field track. The meet, which this year features a large field of collegiate and open runners, is the final home meet for seniors such as Hazen and fellow throwers Ryan Willis and Hannah Warfield-Ruffato.

"There are sentimental reasons to come and see them compete," CU assistant coach Casey Malone, the meet director, said on Thursday.

In addition to 21 schools that are sending full or partial teams, several local clubs have entered runners. Some of the top post-collegiate athletes entered include past U.S. national pole vault champion Pat Manson of Superior, as well as two-time Olympic middle-distance runner Shayne Culpepper.

"The fields are really full," said Malone, "and there is going to be a lot of depth in all the events. This is the most

outstanding field we've had since I've been here. Some really good athletes will be competing, and they are coming from all over."

Many of those good athletes will be wearing Colorado uniforms. In addition to the senior throwers, sprinter Ryan Campbell leads an emerging sprint corps. Campbell is coming off a very fast clocking of 10.33 seconds in the 100 meters, one of the fastest times in school history.

However, times could be slowed by the inclement weather expected Saturday. Malone said the forecast is calling for a mix of rain and snow with a high of only 36 degrees. He added that the only way the meet would be canceled is if snow accumulates on the infield and track, making it dangerous for competitors to race and difficult for officials to see lanes and finish line.

"It would then not be an official meet," Malone explained.

The Colorado Invitational starts at 9 a.m. with the women's hammer throw. The meet has what is called a "rolling schedule," with start times being rough estimates, depending on how quickly events unfold, and how many heats are required.

Hazen expected to be throwing the hammer at 10:30 a.m. Warfield-Ruffatto, ranked No. 2 in the Big 12 Conference, will throw the javelin after the hammer throw finishes. The pole vault, featuring veteran Manson, starts at 11 a.m.

The running events are scheduled to start at 2 p.m. with the women's 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Sprinter Campell is entered in both the 100- and 200-meter dashes, and is also part of CU's 4x100 meter relay that will going for the school record at roughly 2:40 p.m. Other sprinters to watch Saturday include George Pincock and Chris Abuan in the 200 and 400 meters, while Chelsea Haverty and Veronica Maul lead CU's female sprinters.

Many of the top CU's distance runners will be racing, but in "off events," using the meet as a training session. Last year, the men's 800 meters was one of the best races of the day; this year sub-4 minute miler Stephen Pifer will face teammates Anthony Chiulli and Brent Vaughn. That 800-meter race is set for 4:40 p.m., after the women's 800 meters, in which 2006 NCAA steeplechase champ Jenny Barringer will race.

The meet ends with the men's 4x400 meter relay at 6:30 p.m. Malone estimated that 460 athletes will be taking part in Saturday's meet, including runners from Central Missouri and South Dakota Tech, as well as full teams from Colorado State, Metro State, Air Force, University of Northern Colorado and Wyoming.

The post-collegiate runners, such as Culpepper and runners from teams such as Fleet Feet Sports, Boulder Running Company, and the Boulder Distance Project, add a nice touch to the meet, said Malone.

"With all the good club teams running in Boulder, those athletes seek out a chance to race here," said Malone. "It is definitely going to be an exciting meet."

RICKLEFS VS. JUREK in 100K CHAMPIONSHIPS: Boulder's Chad Ricklefs will be racing ultra star Scott Jurek, among others, Saturday in Madison, Wis., at the Mad City 100K. The race serves as the 2007 USA 100K Road Championship.

Ricklefs, 39, is a two-time winner of the Leadville Trail 100 Mile Race. and is a past U.S. champ over 50 miles. Jurek has won the Western States 100 Mile race a record seven consecutive times and the 135 Mile Badwater Ultramarathon through Death Valley in 2005 and 2006. Ricklefs will be racing for a possible spot on the national team going to The Netherlands for September's 2007 World Cup 100K.