Tyson Invitational Awaits Arkansas Track and Field

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In a quest for its 43rd national title, No. 2 Arkansas will be on the hunt for more NCAA qualifying marks at the 2007 Tyson Invitational, Fri.-Sat., Feb. 9-10, at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

A successful meet for the Cardinal and White in the past, the Hogs will look to bolster their NCAA Indoor Championships lineup with more qualifying marks on their home track. Ten Razorbacks have set personal bests in the first three weekends of competition. Five of those performances are also NCAA provisional-qualifying marks.

38 teams are scheduled to make the trip to Fayetteville including 15 in the current USTFCCCA Top 20 (Auburn, Florida State, Texas, Oregon, Florida, Baylor, Nebraska, Stanford, UTEP, Clemson, Louisville, Tennessee and LSU) in addition to the No. 2-ranked Razorbacks.

Arkansas track and field is ranked No. 3 by Trackwire 25 and No. 2 by the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), it was announced on Tuesday, as the Razorbacks prepare for the Tyson Invitational this weekend.

The USTFCCCA has the Razorbacks at No. 2, Florida State at No. 1 and Auburn at No. 3. Also representing the SEC is South Carolina at No. 9, Florida at No. 11, LSU is 15th and Tennessee sits at 16th.

Arkansas is sitting at No. 3 with 39 points in the Trackwire 25. Auburn continues to stay in first place with 45 points and defending NCAA Outdoor Champion Florida State rounds out the top three at No. 2 with 44 points. Among the SEC schools, Florida ranks at No. 10, South Carolina is ranked No. 11 while Tennessee sits at 15thand LSU stands at 19th.

Also released on Tuesday are the Dandy Dozen rankings. Six Razorbacks are ranked in six events and the distance medley relay also takes the No. 3 spot behind No. 1 Stanford and No. 2 Oregon.

In the Trackwire Dandy Dozen, J-Mee Samuels, who has clocked four provisional-qualifying times this season, is ranked No. 5 in the 60-meter dash. Eight-time All-American Peter Kosgei is ranked No. 2 and No. 3 in the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters, respectively. Five-time All-American Perkins is also seated at No. 10 in the mile.

In the field events, Alain Bailey, who has registered two provisional-qualifying marks, is ranked No. 5 in the long jump while teammate Mychael Stewart jumped up to the No. 6 spot after winning the championship long jump at the Armory with a personal best 25-1.25. All-American Nkosinza Balumbu fell to second in the triple jump standings but will fight to be back on top when he competes in the event this weekend at the Tyson Invitational.

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 Tyson Invitational, visit www.hogwired.com.