Arkansas will host the Razorback Invitational this weekend at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville. The event brings together 14 men’s teams, including six ranked in the national top 25: Georgia (No. 2), Texas Tech (No. 4), Illinois (No. 9), South Carolina (No. 10), Oregon (No. 13), and Michigan (No. 22). Other participating schools are Florida, Florida State, Kentucky, LSU, Miami, Oklahoma State, and Texas.
The meet spans two days with events starting at 11:45 a.m. on Friday and at 9:55 a.m. on Saturday. Fans can watch live coverage on SEC Network+ both days and follow results online at flashresults.com.
“It’s going to be a great meet when you look at the competition here this weekend,” said Arkansas men’s head coach Doug Case. “From Oregon to Texas, along with Florida, Miami, Florida State, Illinois, and LSU. It’s a great list of teams that are coming in and we’re expecting it to be one of the best meets in the country this weekend here.”
Case also noted the team’s strategy for the season: “We kind of start the season slow and try to really hit it at SECs and NCAAs. We did some off events in our first meet, now with the competition really good we’re going to do our primary events with almost everyone this week.”
Several world-leading athletes will compete during the invitational. Professional hurdler Trey Cunningham is among them; he ran a time of 7.48 seconds in the 60m hurdles last weekend in Boston and holds the meet record from last year at 7.60 seconds.
Other professional athletes include Canadian Christopher Morales-Williams in the 400m—who set a world-best time of 44.49 seconds at Tyson Track Center during last year’s SEC Championships—and American Matt Boling in the 200m.
“That’s the beauty of a big meet like this,” Case said. “We can draw in some Olympians among great competition. It always helps to compete against the best week-in and week-out. We’re a program that aspires to be at the top level year after year. It’s nice to have some pros compete here and they add to the meet.”
Among collegiate competitors leading their events worldwide or nationally are Tyson Williams (South Carolina) in the 200m, Sidid Njie (Georgia) tying for world lead in the 300m, Jonathan Simms (Georgia) leading in the 400m, Jaouad Khchina (South Carolina) leading in the 1,000m, Antoine Andrews (Texas Tech) holding a collegiate lead in hurdles behind Cunningham’s world mark, Kimani Jack (Georgia) leading collegiately in high jump, and Jonathan Seremes (Texas Tech) leading globally in triple jump.
Arkansas will see season debuts from sophomore high jumper Scottie Vines—last year’s Razorback Invitational winner—and sophomore sprinter Jelani Watkins who transferred recently to Arkansas.
“We’re going to open Scottie Vines in the high jump,” said Case. “I think he looks great in practice and it’s a matter of getting into competition and this will be his first one of the year.”
“I’ve entered Jelani in both sprints with the 200m final on Friday and three rounds of the 60m on Saturday,” Case added about Watkins’ schedule for his debut races.
Arkansas will field several athletes across distance races such as Ernest Cheruiyot, James Sankei, Nick Busienei for the 3,000 meters; Brian Masai and Dawson Welch for mile runs; Rivaldo Marshall and Tyrice Taylor teaming up with Julian Carter and Owan Logorodi for middle distances; Jordan Pierre leads sprinters alongside Devyn Wright, Zyaire Nuriddin and Zander Cruzan for quarter-mile races; while hurdlers include Vashaun Vascianna among others.
In multi-events competition Cooper Williams represents Arkansas against notable rivals including defending NCAA Indoor champion Peyton Bair from Oregon.
