Tom Jones Memorial Invitational next stage for Razorbacks
GAINESVILLE – Arkansas will compete in the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational hosted by the University of Florida this Friday and Saturday, April 12-13, among an impressive field of teams.
The Gators host the SEC Outdoor Championships in May, so a dozen conference teams will be represented at James G. Pressly Stadium and Percy Beard Track this weekend. Coverage of the meet will be available on SEC Network +.
“Florida always does an outstanding job with Coach Holloway and his staff in putting on a meet,” said Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson. “We’re going there looking to get some regional marks, get a feel for the track with the new kids who have competed at Florida before.
“Obviously, it’s going to be a great competition. Florida puts on a well-run meet. So, we want to get down there, get some regional marks, have some fun and be out in the sun.”
SEC schools joining Florida and the Razorbacks this weekend include Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas A&M.
Additional teams include Clemson, Florida State, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio State, Purdue, TCU, and Texas Tech.
A number of events will have three distinctions at the Tom Jones Memorial Invitational with Invite and Olympic Development signifying an elite college division and professional level.
Even with this being the third outdoor meet of the season for the Razorbacks, gaining regional qualifying marks remains the primary goal. The Texas Relays featured relay events for Arkansas while the recent home meet provided too much wind for sprint marks to qualify for the NCAA West First Rounds.
“It was really tough last week,” noted Johnson on the wind during the Arkansas Spring Invitational. “There are some things we can’t control with the wind and weather. We got outside and we’re able to compete coming from our indoor training. It was just good to get outside and compete. The temperature was great, it was just really, really windy.
“Hopefully, we get out to Florida and the temperature looks good and the wind can stay at a minimum. Then we can get out there and compete, really get a chance to run in a legitimate outdoor meet. Now, we’re getting in to the heart of the season and we need to get some things done from a qualifying standpoint.”
Razorbacks entered in the Invitational sections:
200 | Amber Anning, Kaylyn Brown, Rosey Effiong, Joanne Reid
400 | Amber Anning, Kaylyn Brown, Ashanti Denton, Rosey Effiong, Nickisha Pryce, Aaliyah Pyatt, Joanne Reid
100H | Rachel Glenn
400H | Rachel Glenn
High Jump | Sydney Billington
Pole Vault | Marin Chamberlin, Hannah Estes
Long Jump | Nia Robinson
Arkansas alums scheduled to compete include Jada Baylark (100m, 200m), Taliyah Brooks (100m hurdles, long jump), Shafiqua Maloney (800m, 1,500m), Ackera Nugent (200m, 100m hurdles), Kiara Parker (100m, 200m), Paris Peoples (400m), and Britton Wilson (400m).
Athletes training in Fayetteville scheduled to compete include Shamier Little (400m), Alexis Holmes (400m, 800m), Andrenette Knight (400m, 800m), Gabriele Cunningham (100m hurdles), Cindy Sember (100m hurdles), and Gianna Woodruff (400m).
Maloney produced the world leading time in the 600m last week with a 1:23.80 performance. This week she is scheduled to race at 1,500m on Friday and the 800m on Saturday.
“This young lady has been training fantastic,” stated Johnson. “Obviously, we have to try to find different ways to challenge her. It’s a long season outdoors for her. We want to really get some good quality work in and get some things done in the 1,500m and come back to see how she can rebound in the 800m.
“The endurance piece is very important for formidable 800m runners who have somewhat of a background in the 1,500m. Shafiqua doesn’t have a background in the 1,500m, so this is kind of a step up for her. However, she does have a background in the 200m and 400m. She ran the mile indoors and she ran fantastic. So, we expect the same as we give her some more challenges.”
