Arkansas Invitational features plenty of Razorback debuts

FAYETTEVILLE – The defending national champion Razorbacks host their first meet of 2024 with the Arkansas Invitational on Friday, January 12, at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

A dozen newcomers are scheduled to make their Razorback debut in the meet, which includes four freshmen and eight transfers, among a field of 19 teams. Field events begin at 11 a.m. while running events start at 12:45 p.m.

In addition to host Arkansas visiting teams for the Invitational include Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Central Arkansas, Coffeyville (Kan.) CC, Evangel (Mo.), Harding, Kansas City, Little Rock, Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma State, Oral Roberts, Southwest Baptist, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M-Commerce, Texas A&M-Texarkana, Tulsa, UT Arlington, and UTRGV.

A live stream of the meet will be available on SEC Network + at this link: http://tinyurl.com/mr282zfe. Live results from flashresults.com will be available with this link: http://tinyurl.com/8xddzdh6.

There will be an autograph session with 2023 Bowerman winner Jaydon Hibbert from 6:30 to 7 p.m. on Friday. During the Arkansas High School Invitational on Saturday, January 13, an autograph session with various Olympic and World Championship medalist will be held from 3 to 9 p.m.

“Obviously, we’re pleased with what happened last year. We’re fortunate to have won the NCAA Indoor title along with the SEC title. That’s always the standard for us. We don’t look at this year any differently.

“Right now we’re just focused on getting through this first meet. We feel that we have a good team and we’ll have a better picture by the end of January.”

Double NCAA high jump champion Romaine Beckford makes his Arkansas debut in the same week he was named to the 2024 Bowerman preseason watch list. Beckford is joined by returning Razorbacks Tomas Ferrari and Kason O’Riley.

Additional transfers wearing a Razorback uniform for the first time on Friday include a trio in the 60m hurdles of TJ Caldwell, Elijah Morris, and William Spencer. They will race with returning Razorbacks Tai Brown and Brevin Sims as well as alum Shaka Bogan.

The Arkansas transfer crew also includes Steven McElroy (600m), Jack Turner (60m hurdles, pole vault, shot put), Riley Wells (1,000m), and Tevijon Williams (300m). The 600m field will also have Razorbacks Jadon Bartholomew, Brandon Battle, and Ethan Carney.

Pole vault freshman John Kendricks is the lone true freshman making his debut on Friday. The 17-1 prep vaulter is the younger brother of double NCAA champion Sam Kendricks, an Olympic vaulter who earned a bronze medal in 2016 along with a pair of gold medals at the 2017 & 2019 World Championships.

Redshirt freshmen competing in the Razorback uniform this indoor season include Isaac Carney and Wyatt Green in the 600m as well as Grant Williams in the 300m.

Turner, a British decathlete, is one of four multi-event Razorbacks competing in the same three events. The rest of the group includes Yariel Soto Torrado, Daniel Spejcher, and Marcus Weaver.

Rojé Stona, the 2023 NCAA discus silver medalist, will compete in the shot put. The field also includes 2022 World U20 decathlon champion Gabriel Emmanuel, a 6-4 Arkansas freshman from the Netherlands, who is competing unattached.

Arkansas’ distance crew will spread out among four events with a line-up of Reuben Reina (800m, Mile), Elias Schreml (800m, 1000m), Ben Shearer (800m, 1000m), Luke George (100m), Lexington Hilton (1000m, Mile), Patrick Kiprop (Mile), Myles Richter (Mile, 3000m), and Jack Williams (Mile, 3000m). Arkansas alum Austen Dalquist will also race in the mile.