John McDonnell Invitational Returns to Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – After a brief absence in 2006, the John McDonnell Invitational returns to Fayetteville, Sat., April 21, at the newly renovated John McDonnell Field. Field events will begin at 9 a.m. with running prelims starting at 11 a.m. Running finals will begin at 4 p.m.

The Razorbacks have registered 11 NCAA regional-qualifying marks from 10 athletes in six events this season. The NCAA Mideast Regional Championships will be held May 25-26, in Columbia, Mo., on the campus of the University of Missouri.

Some of the teams traveling to Fayetteville this weekend include Iowa State, Louisiana Tech, Oklahoma, Oral Roberts and Tulsa.

Arkansas track and field is ranked No. 20 by Trackwire 25 and No. 16 by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association, it was announced on Tuesday. Three Razorbacks were also tabbed in the Trackwire Dandy Dozen.

Defending NCAA Outdoor Champion Florida State is seated at the top of the Trackwire 25 and the USTFCCCA poll while Auburn and USC round out the top three, respectively, in both polls.

Among the SEC schools, Tennessee is seated at No. 6 in both polls, LSU at No. 4 (USTFCCCA) and No. 5 (Trackwire 25), Georgia is 13th in the USTFCCCA and 14th in the Trackwire 25 while Florida is 18th (USTFCCCA) and 23rd (Trackwire 25).

Also released on Tuesday are the Dandy Dozen rankings. Three Razorbacks are ranked in three events.

In the Dandy Dozen, 10-time All-America Peter Kosgei fell to No. 3 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. He will make his debut in the event this weekend at the John McDonnell Invitational.

In the field events, Alain Bailey fell to No. 7 in the long jump. In the triple jump, All-American and two-time SEC Champion Nkosinza Balumbu sits at second after recording his first regional-qualifying mark at Mt. SAC Relays.

For complete a complete listing of the Trackwire 25 and the USTFCCCA poll, visit www.trackshark.com or www.ustfccca.org. For an updated schedule and live results of the John McDonnell Invitational, visit www.hogwired.com.