MARION, Ind. -- The 22nd edition of the Polar Bear Track and Field Invitational will be hosted by Indiana Wesleyan University on Saturday, March 28.

Ten teams will compete at the early season track meet from Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. The Polar Bear Invitational is one of the earliest outdoor track meets in the area and earns its name due to uncertain weather conditions this time of season.

This year's Polar Bear Invitational will be highlighted by the throwing competitions.

Indiana Wesleyan boasts the current NAIA leader in the discus, John Bowman. His throw last week of 177 feet 11 inches at the Wake Forest Open earned him a first place finish among the mostly NCAA Division I field. He leads last season's NAIA national champion in the discus by five feet.

Also attending the Polar Bear Invitational is two of the top throwers in the world in Erin Gilreath and Elizabeth Wanless. Both athletes attended University of Florida and are current members of the New York Athletic Club.

Gilreath will compete in the hammer throw at the Polar Bear. She is the current American Record holder in the event (73.87 meters/242 feet 4 inches) and competed in the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Greece.

Gilreath has won the 2003 NCAA Indoor weight throw championship, is a three-time USA Indoor champion (2004-06), the 2004 Olympic Trials champion, a 2005 USA Outdoor champion and the 2006 USA Outdoor runner-up.

Wanless has finished third at the 2005 and 2006 USA Outdoor Championships in the shot put. She missed a spot on the 2004 Olympic Team by one spot but qualified for Team USA at the 2005 World Outdoor Championships. Last month, Wanless captured second place at the USA Indoor Championship.

The Polar Bear Invitational will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the outdoor track complex at Indiana Wesleyan.