NIU’s track and field seniors will be busy the weekend of May 13-14, not only because of commencement, but also the MAC Championships.

With the Championships being held at NIU for the first time in more than 30 years, the seniors will be able to participate in their college’s ceremony if they please.

“That’s the plus that we have it at home,” NIU head coach Connie Teaberry said. “Their families will get to see them walk across the stage and get that diploma, which is the main part of that student-athlete. They come over and do the athlete part and compete in the MAC Championships.”

The three-day event begins on Thursday morning and will finish by 5 p.m. on Saturday. With 12 women’s and six men’s teams competing in the championship, preparation began more than a year ago.

Sue Hansfield, assistant athletic director for facilities and event operations, has been planning since last year’s MAC Championships in Buffalo, when NIU found out that it would host after Ball State declared it was unable to.

Since then, Hansfield has been in meetings to discuss the logistics and order all necessary equipment. Teaberry estimates that more than $24,000 worth of equipment has been purchased to host the meet.

With all that goes into the event, Hansfield is excited to be a part of it.

“I am the championship director,” Hansfield said. “This is my fantasy come true; I coached track when I was working in high schools, so to organize, run and be a part of this huge meet, this is awesome. Hopefully on May 15 I will say,‘oh that was fun; let’s do it again.'”

Teaberry is hoping for a good showing from her team, especially since the terrain is well-known to the members.

“The girls are excited because it’s at home,” Teaberry said. “We have the home field advantage. We know our wind; we know our facilities. So we’re hoping that plays to our advantage so we can have a great turnout in MAC.”

While the planning is mostly complete, volunteers are still needed to assist in the day-of events. Hansfield said for every official, which totals 37, at least one volunteer is needed.

“However, we’re doing volunteers to staff the gates [and] crowd control for where we’re going to have the participants tents set up,” Hansfield said. “We’re looking [for] at least 60 volunteers per day to get us through that Thursday, Friday and Saturday.”

Hansfield said many volunteers are already signed up, yet she won’t be turning away additional helpers at the event.

“I know we have a good many, but you can never have too many,” Hansfield said. “There’s a lot to do. We will feed them and they get into the meet for free. It will be a good time.”

Anyone wishing to volunteer for any days of the MAC Championships may go online to niuhuskies.com and visit the Track and Field page to find the “2011 MAC Track Volunteer Form.”