No. 9 Track Hogs Host Arkansas Invite on Friday

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Eager to return to competition, the No. 9 Razorbacks will open their 2008 indoor track and field season Friday when they host the Arkansas Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

Field events will begin at 12 p.m. with running events starting at 1 p.m. Finals of the running events will begin at 6 p.m. Starting at 5 p.m., a $5 admission fee will be charged for spectators.

Live results can be found at www.hogwired.com on the day of the event. Complete results and a meet recap can be found at www.hogwired.com after the meet is completed.

UA will host No. 10 Baylor, Iowa State, No. 11 Kansas, Kansas State, Ole Miss, No. 17 Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, No. 24 Oral Roberts, TCU and Tulsa, among others, on Friday. A total of 20 collegiate teams will be traveling to Fayetteville.

Head Coach John McDonnell, in his 36th season with the Arkansas cross country and track and field programs, welcomes back 18 letterwinners, including three seniors in Tyler Hill, Brent Rosson and Mychael Stewart, from the 2007 indoor season.

The preseason United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll was released Dec. 17, 2007. The Hogs sit at No. 9 after a seventh-place finish indoors and a 63rd-place finish outdoors. Arkansas, one of six SEC teams ranked in the top 25, returns four All-Americans in Alain Bailey, Nkosinza Balumbu, J-Mee Samuels and Stewart. Balumbu is also a three-time SEC Champion.

Four Arkansas freshmen are expected to make their debuts on Friday, including Bryant native Spencer McCorkel. McCorkel, the nation’s best prep vaulter from the 2007 season, holds a personal best of 17-9.

Also making their much anticipated debut will be twin brothers Alex and Andy McClary, transfers from California. Alex will be running the 800 meters and Andy is slated to compete in the mile run.

Long jumper Bailey will be making a triumphant return to the runway after suffering a season-ending knee injury at the 2007 SEC Outdoor Championships. An All-American long jumper from 2007, Bailey earned two SEC runner-up finishes in the long jump and two bronze finishes in the high jump during the 2007 SEC Championship season. He holds the nation’s fourth-best mark in the long jump, 25-6.5, among returning competitors. Bailey is scheduled to compete in the high jump on Friday.

For complete details and a final schedule of the Arkansas Invitational, visit www.hogwired.com.