Tyson Invitational starts with a bang Friday

FAYETTEVILLE – The 2008 Tyson Invitational begins for the seventh-ranked Univ. of Arkansas Lady Razorback track team on Friday morning, Feb. 15, at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville and welcomes more than 2,000 entries to the two-day affair.

The meet which kicks off the championship season for most collegiate athletes and is the start of many professional’s Olympic dreams should be one of the best competitions in the nation and the demand for an opportunity to compete is fierce.

“The combination of a great facility, great athletes and great officials will always lead to tremendous marks,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “We have been fielding calls constantly from our peers asking for lanes at the Tyson Invitational. This is one of the most sought after competitions in the nation.”

Adding to the buzz around the Tyson Invitational is the prospect of several post-collegiate athletes seeking to break American and world records at the Friday night section of the meet which begins at 8:00 p.m.

The collegiate races also bring a buzz as the Tyson Invitational will be the second meet in Arkansas indoor track history to be shown live on the internet. LADYBACKS.com is schedule to air the action on both Friday and Saturday showcasing the nation’s best runners. The Tyson Invitational falls behind the 2007 NCAA Championships as the second meet to be aired live from the facility.

For the Lady Razorbacks, a full compliment is scheduled to compete. Starting with the sprints and going through the field events, an Arkansas female athlete is slated for nearly every woman’s competition giving fans a chance to cheer the home town team throughout the competition. Signature events for the Lady Razorbacks include the championship section of the pole vault at noon on Friday, the championship section of the mile at 1:40 p.m. on Friday and the invitational section of the 3,000 meters at 3:20 on Saturday.

17 of the nation’s top 25 teams are slated to attend the competition which could be the best assembly of talent shy of the NCAA Championships which is scheduled for March 15-16 at the Randal Tyson Track Center. Included in that lineup are #1 LSU, #2 Tennessee, #3 Michigan, #5 Stanford, #6 Arizona State and #9 Virginia Tech as well as numerous other squads.

For more information about Lady Razorback track or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.