Track And Field Hosts Memphis Invitational

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – "There's no place like home."

That's what the University of Memphis track and field team is celebrating as the Tigers prepare to host their only home meet of the 2018 outdoor campaign Friday-Saturday, Apr. 27-28. Action at the two-day Memphis Invitational is set for the Billy J. Murphy Track and Field Complex on the University's Park Avenue campus.

The meet starts Friday at 2 p.m. (CT) with field events, and the running events follow at 5 p.m. (CT). On Saturday, the field events kick off the day at 10 a.m. (CT), with the running events at 12 p.m. (CT).

Reunion Reception Reminder
The Memphis track and field program is holding a reunion reception Friday, Apr. 27 on the University of Memphis campus. The reception is scheduled for the Hardaway Hall of Fame, located at 570 Normal Street, and runs from 7-10 p.m. (CT).

Head coach Kevin Robinson comments
"We're really excited not only for our home meet which has grown over the past four years, but also for our first alumni reception Friday evening. We got a lot of interest from multiple generations for the reception.

"Then, on Saturday, we're holding a senior recognition ceremony, and that's important to me. It's exciting for these seniors because they are beginning a new chapter in their lives. We want to send them off in style and give them the recognition they deserve.

"This is it for us, our final regular-season meet. It is our last opportunity to make sure we're prepared heading into the conference championships in two weeks. We're a pretty solid team. It is our last opportunity, and we need to take advantage of it."

Team Scoring
The 2018 Memphis Invitational is a non-scoring team meet.

Teams Competing
Arkansas Baptist, Arkansas-Pine Bluff, Arkansas State, Austin Peay, Christian Brothers, Coahoma CC, Jackson State, Little Rock, Memphis, Mississippi Valley State, Missouri State, Morehouse, Murray State, Southeast Missouri, SIUE, Tennessee State, UAB, UT Martin, Union University

Tigers Tidbits/Five "What To Watch For":

Senior Salute Saturday: A group of over 20 Tigers track and field seniors will be honored near the start of the running events Saturday. After the 4x100 meter relays are run at 12 p.m. (CT), the Senior Salute is scheduled to begin at 12:20 p.m. (CT) on the complex's infield.
A Tigers' Wrap-Up: For the fourth year in a row, the Tigers close out their regular season with a home meet at the Billy J. Murphy Track and Field Complex. Memphis, as a full squad, competed in its final meet of the outdoor season at home in 2015, 2016, 2017 and this weekend. Memphis hosted the Memphis Invitational in 2014, but the meet was held in late March. This is the ninth time in the last 10 outdoor seasons the Tigers are hosting an outdoor home meet. The only season in that stretch in which Memphis did not host a meet was 2013.
Final Conference Tune-Up: With this being their last regular-season meet, the Tigers are using the Memphis Invitational as their final tune-up before the American Athletic Conference Outdoor Championships in two weeks. The league championships meet is scheduled for Cincinnati, Ohio, May 10-13.
Do It Again/Repeat Performance: Last year, the Tigers had a successful home meet with 13 titles and three school records. And, Memphis hopes for that and possibly more this weekend. At the 2017 home meet, Davon DeMoss (100m), Cera Chavez (200m) and Jordan Wesner (high jump) all set school marks. Among the first-place finishes were sweeps of the men's and women's 100 meters, 4x400 meter relays and javelin.
A (School) Records Reset: From the numbers, the Tigers track and field squads are doing quite well in spite of the inclement weather they've faced most of the spring. Heading into the final regular-season meet, Memphis has set eight outdoor school records combined (six women/two men). Last season, the Tigers had five school marks. In 2016, Memphis had 11 school records set in the outdoor campaign, the most by the Tigers in a season.

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Players Mentioned

Cera Chavez

Davon DeMoss

Jordan Wesner

University of Memphis Athletics