2017 Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee InvitationalApr 6, 2017 by Taylor Dutch
Top Five Events To Watch At Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational
Top Five Events To Watch At Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational
Allyson Felix headlines the weekend. This Saturday, UCLA will host several much-anticipated outdoor performances at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational. Check out the top five events to watch on Saturday, April 8, live on FloTrack.
This Saturday, UCLA will host several much-anticipated outdoor performances at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee Invitational. Check out the top five events to watch on Saturday, April 8, live on FloTrack.
Women's 4x100m, 4x400m
Who: Allyson Felix
When: 1:53PM PT/4:53PM ET, 6:00PM PT/9:00PM ET
Why: The most decorated U.S. woman in Olympic track history will make her 2017 season debut in two relay races. Allyson Felix is scheduled to compete in the 4x100m and 4x400m this Saturday to mark her first competition on the track since earning silver in the 400m and gold in the 4x100m and 4x400m at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Last year, Felix opened up her season at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee meet where she ran the 4x100m with members of her training group.
With six Olympic gold medals and nine world titles to her name, Felix will be the most anticipated athlete to watch this Saturday.
Women's 200m
Who: English Gardner, Candace Hill
When: 5:07PM PT/8:07PM ET
Why: The women's 200m will feature a showdown of sprint sensations English Gardner and Candace Hill. Gardner, an Olympic finalist and former Oregon NCAA champion, is coached by one of the most decorated U.S. Olympic Track and Field coaches in John Smith. Last year, Gardner won the 100m at the Olympic Trials in a personal best of 10.74. She went on to place seventh in the final of the 100m at the Olympic Games. She was also part of the Team USA 4x100m relay team that won gold in Rio.
Hill is returning from her most recent accomplishment: a 400m personal best of 52.70 and a 200m world lead of 22.76. At 16-years-old, Hill made history when she became the first high school athlete to break the 11-second barrier in the 100m. She ran 10.98 in the 100m for a national record at the 2015 Brooks PR Invitational and turned professional six months later.
In 2016, Hill won the 100m and 4x100m at the IAAF World Junior Championships.
Women's 100m
Who: Candace Hill, Brittney Reese, Kylie Price, Christabel Nettey
When: 3:28PM PT/6:28PM ET
Why: Hill is scheduled to compete in the 100m and 200m on Saturday. In the 100m, she will be joined by Olympic champion long jumper Brittney Reese who will be opening up her season with a sprint.
Last year, Reese jumped a personal best and world lead of 7.31m to win the long jump at the Olympic Trials. She was unable to repeat her Olympic gold performance from 2012, but she did get on the podium with a silver medal. The 2016 Games marked her third Olympic team and second medal.
Canadian Olympian Christabel Nettey will be competing after a 2016 which included five top six finishes in the long jump at Diamond League competitions.
Former UCLA All-American Kylie Price will also join the race after a senior season which included a 6.54m personal best and eighth-place finish in the long jump at the Olympic Trials.
Men's 100m
Who: Will Claye
When: 3:38PM PT / 6:38PM ET
Why: In his first competition of the year, Will Claye will join the sprint field in the 100m. The triple jump specialist is returning from a breakthrough 2016 season which included a personal best of 17.76m to earn a silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games.
After earning his medal, Claye jumped into the stands and proposed to his long-time girlfriend, hurdler Queen Harrison.
Men's 400m
Who: Bryshon Nellum
When: 3:16PM PT/6:16PM ET
Why: Former USC NCAA Champion and 2012 Olympian Bryshon Nellum will open up his season with a 400m. Nellum only raced twice in 2016 and missed the opportunity to make the Olympic team, but in 2015, Nellum was a member of the 4x400m relay that won world championship gold in Beijing. He also earned a silver medal as part of the 4x400m at the 2012 Olympic Games.
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Video footage from the competition will be archived and stored in a video library for FloPRO subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.
Women's 4x100m, 4x400m
Who: Allyson Felix
When: 1:53PM PT/4:53PM ET, 6:00PM PT/9:00PM ET
Why: The most decorated U.S. woman in Olympic track history will make her 2017 season debut in two relay races. Allyson Felix is scheduled to compete in the 4x100m and 4x400m this Saturday to mark her first competition on the track since earning silver in the 400m and gold in the 4x100m and 4x400m at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Last year, Felix opened up her season at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie Joyner-Kersee meet where she ran the 4x100m with members of her training group.
With six Olympic gold medals and nine world titles to her name, Felix will be the most anticipated athlete to watch this Saturday.
Women's 200m
Who: English Gardner, Candace Hill
When: 5:07PM PT/8:07PM ET
Why: The women's 200m will feature a showdown of sprint sensations English Gardner and Candace Hill. Gardner, an Olympic finalist and former Oregon NCAA champion, is coached by one of the most decorated U.S. Olympic Track and Field coaches in John Smith. Last year, Gardner won the 100m at the Olympic Trials in a personal best of 10.74. She went on to place seventh in the final of the 100m at the Olympic Games. She was also part of the Team USA 4x100m relay team that won gold in Rio.
Hill is returning from her most recent accomplishment: a 400m personal best of 52.70 and a 200m world lead of 22.76. At 16-years-old, Hill made history when she became the first high school athlete to break the 11-second barrier in the 100m. She ran 10.98 in the 100m for a national record at the 2015 Brooks PR Invitational and turned professional six months later.
In 2016, Hill won the 100m and 4x100m at the IAAF World Junior Championships.
Women's 100m
Who: Candace Hill, Brittney Reese, Kylie Price, Christabel Nettey
When: 3:28PM PT/6:28PM ET
Why: Hill is scheduled to compete in the 100m and 200m on Saturday. In the 100m, she will be joined by Olympic champion long jumper Brittney Reese who will be opening up her season with a sprint.
Last year, Reese jumped a personal best and world lead of 7.31m to win the long jump at the Olympic Trials. She was unable to repeat her Olympic gold performance from 2012, but she did get on the podium with a silver medal. The 2016 Games marked her third Olympic team and second medal.
Canadian Olympian Christabel Nettey will be competing after a 2016 which included five top six finishes in the long jump at Diamond League competitions.
Former UCLA All-American Kylie Price will also join the race after a senior season which included a 6.54m personal best and eighth-place finish in the long jump at the Olympic Trials.
Men's 100m
Who: Will Claye
When: 3:38PM PT / 6:38PM ET
Why: In his first competition of the year, Will Claye will join the sprint field in the 100m. The triple jump specialist is returning from a breakthrough 2016 season which included a personal best of 17.76m to earn a silver medal at the 2016 Olympic Games.
After earning his medal, Claye jumped into the stands and proposed to his long-time girlfriend, hurdler Queen Harrison.
Congratulations one more time to @WilliamClaye and @goQueengo !
— TrackTown USA (@GoTrackTownUSA) August 16, 2016
Couldn't be happier for you both! pic.twitter.com/PDNpcx1JgM
Men's 400m
Who: Bryshon Nellum
When: 3:16PM PT/6:16PM ET
Why: Former USC NCAA Champion and 2012 Olympian Bryshon Nellum will open up his season with a 400m. Nellum only raced twice in 2016 and missed the opportunity to make the Olympic team, but in 2015, Nellum was a member of the 4x400m relay that won world championship gold in Beijing. He also earned a silver medal as part of the 4x400m at the 2012 Olympic Games.
How To Watch
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Archived Competition Footage
Video footage from the competition will be archived and stored in a video library for FloPRO subscribers to watch for the duration of their subscription.