The heart of the indoor track season begins this weekend with a multitude of major meets across the country – the U.S. Open Track & Field at Madison Square Garden, Penn State National Meet, Boston University Terrier Invitational and Texas A&M Mondo Challenge.

For those on the West Coast, the center of indoor action again lies at the Dempsey Indoor Stadium with the University of Washington Invitational.

Jerry Schumacher, coach of the Oregon Track Club-Portland, one of America’s top training groups, has several athletes using the meet as rustbusters for the indoor season.

Lisa Uhl headlines the women’s 5000 meters on Friday night. The 2010 NCAA 5,000 and 10,000 meter champion opened up her season two weeks ago at the UW Indoor Preview, winning the 3000 meters in 9:10.36. Uhl’s primary challenger will be Renee Metivier Baillie, who is best known for her 2010 U.S. Indoor 3000 meter title.

The Schumacher duo of Matt Tegenkamp and Andrew Bumbalough will take the track in the men’s mile. Also entered are 2008 Olympian Ian Dobson and veteran miler Jon Rankin, now representing the Cayman Islands.

Lopez Lomong will get in some speed work in the 800 meters rather than his 1500/mile specialty. Mark Wieczorek, the fifth place finisher at USA’s in 2011, will also contest the race. Wieczorek ran a 1:49.87 for 800 meters and 4:05.58 for the mile at the UW Preview meet two weeks ago.

The 3k’s at Washington are always top-notch and this meet is no different. World 10,000 meter silver medalist Sally Kipyego leads the way for the women. She has an indoor 3000 best of 8:48.77 that could go down on the Dempsey’s fast oversized track. Other entrants of note are Angela Bizzarri, a three time NCAA champ while at Illinois, Malindi Elmore of Canada, former UW All-American Katie Follett, steeplechase specialist  Bridget Franek, UW sophomore and former Foot Locker champion Megan Goethals and Washington prep standout Maddie Meyers.

The men’s field features several top post-collegiate athletes headlined by Sam Chelanga. The former Liberty University superstar wrapped up his college career this past spring and now competes with the Oregon Track Club-Eugene. Other pros include two of Chelenga’s teammates, European 10,000 meter bronze medalist Chris Thompson, 27:30 10k man Kevin Chelimo and former NCAA 5k champ Stephen Pifer. BYU’s Miles Batty will look to break up the OTC crew. The 3:55 miler has experienced most of his track success with the 1500/mile distance but his cross country credentials indicate he could compete well in longer distances.

Defending UW Invite mile champ Lauren Johnson returns to the Dempsey to retain her title but will be challenged by a strong field that includes two-time NCAA 800 meter champ Geena Gall and Katie Flood, an All-American from Washington.

Two-time NCAA indoor 800 meter champ Lacey Bleazard of BYU, who interestingly won titles in non-consecutive years (2009, 2011), will contest her specialty event and face off against Canadian Hilary Stellingwerff and Christine Babcock of Washington.

The men’s 5000 meters features Cameron Levins of Southern Utah, the fourth place finisher at the NCAA Cross Country Championships, Cal grad and Team Indiana Elite member Yosef Ghebray and Bolota Asmerom, who finished in the dreaded fourth position in the 5000 meters at the 2008 Olympic Trials.

Kevin Liao writes about the world of track and field on his blog, Spiked Up, Psyched Up.