No. 1 Razorbacks host championship caliber field in Tyson Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 2021 edition of the Tyson Invitational has the nationally top-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks hosting an eight-team field of national caliber schools, with six of the top eight teams in the rankings this week while all eight programs are ranked among 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: 2. Texas A&M, 4. Texas, 6. LSU, 7. Alabama, 8. Florida, 14. Florida State, and 15. Oregon.

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_Meets/Indoor/02-12_Tyson/

Live Stream

Friday (3 p.m. CT): https://es.pn/3732N4I

Saturday (1 p.m. CT): https://es.pn/3d0f6Tn

“Tyson Invitational has traditionally been a great track meet, especially in the ballistic events,” said Arkansas women’s head coach Lance Harter. “It has a great reputation of producing a lot of national qualifying marks as a final preparation prior to the SEC meet.

“So, people are going to be in fine-tuned shape and really ready to make a statement. We’re going to have some really hot performances coming out of the Tyson facility.”

Among the schools competing in the Tyson Invitational, they currently combine for nine collegiate leading marks heading into this weekend. In addition to a traditionally strong meet for sprints, hurdles and jumps, the distance events have a stellar field as well.

“We are even more excited, because traditionally the distance groups would flee to the west coast and go to the Husky Invitational in Washington this weekend,” noted Harter. “So, now everyone is going to stay home and I think the distance events are going to fill out. We should see a lot of great competition across the board. We’re looking forward to a great weekend.”

A featured event for the Razorbacks is the distance medley relay as Arkansas competes in the event for the first time this indoor season. Oklahoma State is an additional team racing in the distance medley relay.

“Our last piece of the puzzle we haven’t been able to put together is a distance medley relay,” said Harter. “We were ready a couple of weeks ago, unfortunately the competition washed out. So, we will put together another very competitive group and look forward to the challenges from the teams coming to visit.”

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.

“The Tyson meet is our last chance for people to make our top 27 roster, which we’re allowed to enter at the SEC meet, but also those who are needing to improve marks to make sure they are within the top 24 on the descending order list,” noted Harter.

“It highlights even more so that this a weekend where you really have to take care of business.”