No. 2 Razorbacks host another impressive Tyson Invitational
FAYETTEVILLE – Serving as one of the premier indoor collegiate meets annually over the past 25 years, this weekend’s Tyson Invitational continues a tradition of featuring an elite field of collegians and professional athletes inside the Randal Tyson Track Center.
Eleven schools nationally ranked among the top 25 will be represented among 44 teams and over 1,200 athletes competing this Friday and Saturday.
No. 2 Arkansas is the top ranked men’s program, followed by No. 6 Florida, No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 11 Nebraska, No. 12 Illinois, No. 13 Ole Miss, No. 17 Iowa State, No. 20 Missouri, No. 21 Arizona State, and No. 25 Oklahoma State.
“This Tyson weekend is iconic, I think, in the world of indoor track and field,” stated Arkansas men’s head coach Chris Bucknam. “It’s been on the same weekend with the same quality of collegian and pro athletes.
“We’re right in the heart of the indoor season, in the heat of the battle as far as the collegiate season is concerned. Things are also heating up on the pro side. Converging together it’s going to be a heck of a track meet.”
A live stream through SEC Network + will be available each day, starting at 4 p.m. on Friday (https://tinyurl.com/2a5kyk54), and noon on Saturday (https://tinyurl.com/2s3td7y5). Live results will be available through flashresults.com at this link: https://tinyurl.com/mryk3wcs.
PARKING INFO
With Razorback baseball opening its season this weekend, parking for the Tyson Invitational will be in Lot 500 and will cost $5 per day. Payment can be made through the Flowbird app and searching Zone 500, or by texting UARK500 to 25023 and follow prompts.
Invitational events on Friday evening include the 60m, 60m hurdles, 3,000m, and long jump. Also, in Boston, Razorback Yaseen Abdalla will race over 5,000m.
Abdalla currently holds the UA record in the 3,000m at 7:34.17 and recently produced a career best of 3:55.31 in the mile. The 5,000m UA record of 13:22.29 he set in December was recently broken by Patrick Kiprop with a 13:11.67 in Boston two weeks ago.
Jordan Anthony, currently equal No. 7 among collegians in the 60m this season, produced a time of 6.57 during the Razorback Invitational that left him just shy of the Arkansas school record of 6.56 set in 2016 by Kenzo Cotton. Teammate Tevijon Williams joins him the 60m Invitational.
Vashaun Viscianna, who posted a 7.63 to win the Razorback Invitational, leads a crew of four Arkansas hurdlers in the 60m hurdles Invitational. Joining him are TJ Caldwell, Karamoko Sacko and Brevin Sims as well alum Elijah Morris.
Eight Razorbacks are entered in the 400m Invitational, led by TJ Tomlyanovich, Jaden Smith, Steven McElroy and Brandon Battle. Arkansas alums Chris Bailey and Lance Lang are in the field along with Jamaican Rusheen McDonald, a bronze medalist at the 2024 World Indoor.
The 3,000m Invitational will have five Razorbacks entered with Patrick Kiprop, Reuben Reina, Ben Shearer, Timothy Chesondin and Brian Masai among runners from Iowa State, Oklahoma State, Oregon, and Tulsa. Alums in the race include Kirami Yego, Austen Dalquist, and Jacob McLeod.
“Hats off to how hard our kids have been working, all the way through last summer,” noted Bucknam of the distance runners. “We’re starting to see the fruits of that labor and how competitive they are. We need them to put on a good show this weekend.
“The 3,000m Invitational on Friday night is going to be phenomenal. It’s going to be one of the best races in the country. They’ll be trying to run around 7:40, which is awfully fast, just to try to make the top 16 nationally.”
Tajay Gayle of Jamaica, the 2019 World champion and 2023 World bronze medalist, headlines the Invitational long jump that includes Razorbacks Henry Kiner and Uroy Ryan along with Arkansas alum LaQuan Nairn.
Saturday Invitational events feature the 800m, high jump and triple jump.
Alum Romaine Beckford, a four-time NCAA high jump champion, is one of three Jamaicans competing as he is joined by Christoff Bryan and Raymond Richards. Another professional in the field is Oklahoma alum Vernon Turner.
Arkansas freshman Scottie Vines, who cleared 7-3 (2.21) with a victory during his indoor debut at the Razorback Invitational, and Joshua Blakely, who set an indoor best of 7-1.75 (2.18), will represent the Razorbacks as they contend with a trio of elite jumpers from Nebraska, led by Tyus Wilson who has cleared 7-4.25 (2.24) this season.
“Scottie is off to a great start and we kind of expected that based on what we’ve seen in practice,” said Bucknam. “He’s a great competitor and unflappable. He’s been in some big meets on the world stage as a junior and is the reigning World U20 champion from this past summer. He’s been in some big meets and that’s important to carry forward as the meets become more important.”
Apalos Edwards, who ranks third among collegians this season at 53-8.5 (16.37), and Kiner are entered in the triple jump along with alum Jah-Nhai Perinchief. The field includes current collegiate leader in Missouri’s Jonathan Seremes, who has a best of 55-7 (16.94).
Defending NCAA Indoor 800m champion Rivaldo Marshall headlines the Invitational 800m along with teammate Tyrice Taylor and they are joined by Razorbacks Davis Helmerich and Elias Schreml.
