Top Teams Head to Fayetteville

Top Teams Head to Fayetteville

Jan 29, 2015 by Meg Bellino
Top Teams Head to Fayetteville




WEEKEND'S RACE PREVIEWS:

UW InvitePSU NationalArmory InviteCamel City Elite | Razorback Invite

With the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships being held in Fayetteville, Ark., it’s only fitting the Razorbacks host a few home meets in preparation. While they’re typically known for the competitive Tyson Invite in February, this weekend the Razorback Invitational promises top teams and individuals, which means top times will follow. Here are some events to keep an eye on: 

Women’s 200m
, Friday 7:00pm CT
It’ll be a Texas A&M and Florida showdown in this event. Texas A&M has Kamaria Brown, Olivia Ekpone, Shamier Little, and Ashton Purvis. Florida will send out Destinee Gause, Kyra Jefferson, and Robin Reynolds. Combined, these ladies make up six of the top-11 returning indoor 200m marks from 2014. That’s not too shabby.

Men's & Women's DMR, Friday 8:00pm CT
We know about the Stanford men, but are Stanford women also?? Elise Cranny and Olivia Baker aren’t entered in any individual events, but rumors are swirling of their potential to assemble one of the NCAA’s best relay teams. This is all speculation, unfortunately, but we think on the men’s side, ArkansasNotre DameOklahoma State, and Stanford could throw down some qualifying marks. On the women’s side, Iowa StateNotre DameOklahoma State, and Stanford look to be the potential top women’s relay squads.

Men’s 400m, Saturday 1:10pm CT
Return of the Bowerman! Texas A&M’s Deon Lendore will be opening up in his signature event, the 400m. And it’s a good day to debut. Marqueze Washington (Arkansas), Edward Kemboi (Iowa State), Quincy Downing and Vernon Norwood (LSU), Christopher Giesting (Notre Dame), and the Florida contingent of Najee GlassHugh Graham, Jr., and Nick Uruburu are slated to compete with the returning NCAA champion Lendore. It’ll be a nice little preview of the field that could toe the line together at the NCAA Championships.

Men’s 3k, Saturday 3:20pm CT
We get to see the Oklahoma State Cowboys open up against two of Stanford’s top athletes. Chad Noelle, Brian Gohlke, and freshman stud Cerake Geberkidane will take their chops to Fayetteville to try and grab some sub-8:00 times. Their biggest competition? The Cardinal men Erik Olson (seventh in last year’s NCAA 3k) and new member of the sub-4 mile club Sean McGorty. Arkansas hero Stanley Kebenei ran 13:48 in the 5k in Kentucky last weekend and will also be in the mix. Expect this to be a fast one, folks.

Women's 800m, Saturday 3:35pm CT
The women’s 800m field is full of returning All Americans and former Arkansas standout, Stephanie Brown. Brown, now competing for Nike, ran a 2:41.31 1000m at the Arkansas Invite on Jan. 9, and will be opening up in the event that won her an indoor SEC title in 2014. She’ll face stiff competition in returning All Americans OK State’s Savannah Camacho (runner-up indoors in 2014), Stanford’s Claudia Saunders (runner-up outdoors in 2014), OK State’s Kaela Edwards (third indoors in 2014), and Purdue’s Vanessa McLeod (indoor qualifier in 2013). Florida’s Claudia Francis and LSU’s Morgan Schuetz could also contend, with both ladies running 2:06 so far this season.