Tigers Track And Field Heads To Redhawks Invitational Friday

Friday, February 17

Cape Girardeau, Mo.

University of Memphis

Redhawks Invitational

Adam Neelly, 2016-17 Men's Track and Field

Photo by: Nikki Boertman

Tigers Track And Field Heads To Redhawks Invitational Friday

Feb 16, 2017 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Meet is final tune-up for next week's league championships.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – It's here for the University of Memphis track and field teams – Championships Week.

And, while the American Athletic Conference Indoor meet is still a week away, the Tigers men's and women's track and field squads are using Friday's Redhawks Invitational as a final tune-up. The American Indoor Championships are Feb. 24-25 in Birmingham, Ala.

Southeast Missouri is hosting the one-day meet at the campus' Student Recreation Center Friday, Feb. 17. The action starts at 3:30 p.m. (CT) with field events, and running events follow at 6:30 p.m. (CT).

Robinson on the Redhawks Invitational:
"While last week's Music City Challenge served as our conference championships preview, Friday's meet is going to be a final test for some of our athletes. Many heading to next week's conference championships are not going to Southeast Missouri. However, those competing Friday will use the meet to fine-tune their performances, including several in our field events. We'll also have some of our younger runners use the meet to gain some valuable experience."

The following is this weekend's meet information:

Team Scoring:
The 2017 Redhawks Invitational is a non-scoring team meet.

Competing Schools:
Memphis, Rhodes College, Southeast Missouri, UT Martin

Tigers Tidbits/Five "What To Watch For":

Hep(tathlon) prep: Lennard Biere and Simon Hosten, the Tigers' two multi-event athletes, both are scheduled for two events Friday in preparation for the men's heptathlon at next week's conference championships. Biere will compete in the men's pole vault, and Hosten in the men's shot put. Both are slated for the men's high jump. At the Feb. 3-4 Southern Illinois/Don DeNoon Invitational, Hosten won the men's heptathlon with a school-record 5,470 points.
Full throttle in throws: Head coach Kevin Robinson said this meet would be used to fine-tune some field events for the conference championships, and that means nearly the entire throws group. For the Tigers women's squad, Ashley Pryke (shot put) and Mona Jaidi (weight throw) will compete Friday. On the men's side, Adam Neelly, Rafael Vallery, Luke Vaughn and Wade Wells all will throw in the shot put. Neelly, Vallery and Vaughn also are set to compete in the weight throw.
First-timers: Some Tigers are making their first appearances in events in 2016-17. Those running in certain indoor events for the first time in their careers are sophomore Haleigh Montgomery in the women's 55m, freshman Hailey Williams in the women's 400m and junior Jasmine Taylor in the women's 200m. Junior De'Vonni Farrar is competing in her first meet this season. She is running in the women's 400m Friday.
Return to their PR site: Junior ToNaya Gulley and sophomore Haleigh Montgomery make returns to the place where both set personal-bests in the women's 55m hurdles. At the 2016 Redhawks Invitational, Gulley ran an 8.21 and placed first, and Montgomery posted an 8.55 and crossed the finish line in second place.
Full crew on board: In addition to the throws, the Tigers are taking their main performers in the women's pole vault (Jada Parker, Dorina Baiker, Allie Hughes) and men's high jump (Noah Agnew, Jordan Wesner) to Friday's meet.

Up Next:
The Tigers travel to Birmingham, Ala., for the American Athletic Conference Indoor Championships Feb. 24-25. The Birmingham Crossplex is the championships site for a second-straight season. The indoor facility also hosted the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championships.