by RBR Admin
Tyson Center, ATL Meet #1, photo via ESPN TV by Kathy Camara
UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS MEN’S TRACK & FIELD || @RazorbackTF
No. 3 Razorbacks host championship caliber field in Tyson Invitational
Online Version: https://bit.ly/3rPivZr
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Tyson Invitational continues its tradition of being a showcase event for the No. 3 Razorbacks as the eight-team field features six teams ranked among the top 10 in this week’s national rankings with all eight schools ranked in the top 15.
Scheduled to compete in the Tyson Invitational on Friday and Saturday are the following teams with their current standing in the USTFCCCA national rating index: 1. Oregon, 2. LSU, 5. Florida State, 9. Texas, 10, Florida, 13. Texas A&M, and 14. Alabama.
The Tyson Invitational is the fifth consecutive meet the Razorbacks have hosted this indoor season. It leads Arkansas into the postseason where the Randal Tyson Track Center also serves as host for the SEC and NCAA Indoor Championships.
Live results: https://flashresults.com/2021_
Live Stream
Friday (3 p.m. CT): https://es.pn/3732N4I
Saturday (1 p.m. CT): https://es.pn/3d0f6Tn
“We are looking for continued improvement this weekend,” said Arkansas coach Chris Bucknam. “We’ve had a good four-week run of some outstanding track meets. We’ve also had some great programs in here that provided some unbelievable competition for everybody.
“We’re just trying to knock off qualifying times at this point. I’m hoping that we can improve where we are nationally as well as in the SEC.”
Among the schools competing in the Tyson Invitational, they currently combine for 12 collegiate leading marks heading into this weekend.
Just reaching the final in the 60m and 60m hurdle events will give entrants a taste of what to expect in upcoming conference and national meet encounters. This edition of the Tyson Invitational features deep and talented fields in various events.
“My hat’s off to Matt Downs, our director of ops, who has done a phenomenal job of scheduling and putting these five meets together,” stated Bucknam. “It’s a full-time job keeping all these teams happy and making sure that they have the things they need coming in with all the covid protocol along with all the added stress. You look at the teams we’ve had here, and it’s been phenomenal.”
A key event for the Razorbacks this weekend is the distance medley relay. In contesting the event for the first time this season Arkansas is seeking a time that will qualify them for the NCAA Indoor meet.
“We’ll run the DMR and I know Texas is trying to do the same thing we are,” noted Bucknam. “That is to hit a national qualifying time. We will have to be on point and dialed in to make sure we run with Texas and they run with us. Then we can provide a good environment for those guys to hit a qualifying time.”
In addition to seeking a mark for the NCAA Indoor, some Razorbacks are aiming to improve their marks to be among the top 24 on the descending order list to qualify for the SEC Championships, which Arkansas hosts on February 25-27, so they can be part of the 27-man squad the Razorbacks enter.
“I would have to say of the 27 competing at SEC, we probably have 24 of those picked out,” said Bucknam. “So, there’s about 10 guys vying for three spots to be on that conference team. It’s down to the final few spots.”
Tyson Meeting Schedule: Tyson Invitational Schedule (2.9.21).pdf
Tyson Meeting Starts List Events: start lists Tyson Inv.pdf
