For the second year in a row, Boise State track and field star, redshirt junior Emma Bates is headed the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships at the Albuquerque Convention Center at the University of New Mexico.

Competing in the 5000-meters on Friday, March 14, and the 3000-meters on Saturday, March 15, Bates will look to improve on her 2013 finishes.

“I didn’t do so well last year so I’m taking that and using that as motivation,†Bates said.

Bates, who finished runner-up at the 2013 NCAA Cross Country National Championships, has a lot of confidence going into this weekend’s events after a slow start to the indoor season this spring.

“I’m planning on going in there and getting first team All-American,â€Â  Bates said. “I’m going to go for the win. I might as well, you’re in the race, that’s what you run for. I’m going to go for it.â€

Now the third most decorated track and field athlete in Boise State history, Bates is a motivating force for first year coach Corey Ihmel’s squad.

“She’s obviously someone the young ladies can look at to see somebody who is competing at a very high level,†Ihmels said. “How she goes about things day-in and day-out, when you have somebody like that on the team it speaks volumes of what it takes to get to the next level.â€

Bates’ first event will take place Friday night at 8:45 p.m. MT when she competes in the 5000-meters.