FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2012 – MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: Zach Lawson (zlawson@uark.edu)

 

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Tyson Invitational next for No. 4 Razorbacks

 

            FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After spending last weekend on the road in New York, the No. 4 University of Arkansas women’s track and field team returns to Fayetteville to host the Tyson Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The field of teams is set to include nine teams ranked in this week’s U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) national poll. Competition begins at noon (CT) Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturday.

            “We’re back home this weekend for a great competition,” head coach Lance Harter said. “Friday and Saturday we have the Tyson Invitational, which is our annual collegiate competition. It’s loaded and the level of competition is absolutely incredible. We’re talking about world-class athletes at the collegiate level trying to improve their marks. We have to take advantage of this opportunity to get ready for the SEC meet.”

            The Razorbacks face a loaded field for the third consecutive week with several ranked teams competing this weekend at the Tyson Invitational. Along with Arkansas, the meet is schedule to feature No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Clemson, No. 5 Central Florida, No. 6 Texas, No. 8 Texas Tech, No. 13 Georgia, No. 19 Oklahoma, No. 24 Kansas. Conference foes Auburn, Ole Miss and South Carolina will also be in the mix.

            Through its first four meets of the 2012 season, Arkansas has posted four NCAA automatic-qualifying results with Tina Sutej in the pole vault, Stephanie Brown at 800 meters, Kristen Gillespie in the mile and the team’s distance-medley relay. The Razorbacks have eight national top-10 marks, including Sutej’s No. 1-ranked clearance (4.45m/14-7.25) in the pole vault.

            Arkansas slipped one spot to No. 4 in the Feb. 7 release of the USTFCCCA national rankings. Despite the drop, the Razorbacks remain among the top-five teams for the fourth-consecutive week to begin the 2012 season. Arkansas is one of four teams from the SEC ranked this week. Three of the four—Arkansas, LSU and Georgia—are scheduled to compete in Fayetteville this weekend.

            In addition to the Tyson Invitational, Northwest Arkansas will host the USA Track & Field Classic this Saturday, beginning at 5 p.m. at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The meet will include a 10-event professional lineup and a field of the world’s best track and field stars that have combined to win 21 Olympic medals and 60 World Championship medals. Former Arkansas standouts Wallace Spearmon and Veronica Campbell-Brown are scheduled to compete.

            “Saturday evening is going to be real highlight for this weekend,” Harter said. “If you want to see an Olympic preview and can’t get to London this summer, just come to Fayetteville because they’re here. It’s a chance to see the best in the world. It’s amazing who all wants to run in our facility. It’s the world’s fastest track and the world’s best want to get on it.”

            Admission for both the Tyson Invitational and USATF Classic is free to the public. To follow the action throughout the weekend, an interactive blog, live results and video stream will be available. The USATF Classic will be broadcast on tape delay Sunday, Feb. 12, at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN2. For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

 

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