Track And Field Preview: BSC Indoor Icebreaker

Friday, December 6

Birmingham, Ala.

9 am CT

University of Memphis

BSC Panther Ice Breaker

Zachary Wyatt, 2018-19 Men's Track and Field

Photo by: Jimmy Mitchell

Dec 05, 2019 | Men's Track and Field, Women's Track and Field

Tigers to open 2019-20 campaign in Birmingham Friday.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – After more than 100 days of training since late August, the longest preseason practice of any collegiate sport comes to an end Friday, Dec. 6 with the University of Memphis track and field team's season opener at the BSC Indoor Icebreaker.

The Tigers started practice when the University began its fall semester Aug. 26, and head coach Kevin Robinson's squad is eager to compete for the first time in 2019-20 this weekend.

The meet, hosted by Birmingham-Southern College, is set for the Birmingham Crossplex. The meet begins at 8:30 a.m. (CT) with running preliminaries. The field events start soon after at 9 a.m. (CT).

Competing Teams
NCAA Division I:Alabama A&M, Alabama State, Central Arkansas, Georgia State, Memphis, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi Valley, Samford, Tulane, UAB
NCAA Division II:Christian Brothers, Clayton State, Embry-Riddle, Lee, Mississippi College, Shorter, West Georgia
NCAA Division III:Berry College, Birmingham-Southern, Emory, Oglethorpe, Sewanee
NAIA:Brenau University, Bryan College, Life College, Mobile

Tigers Tidbits

Friday's meet is the first of four – yes, four – trips to Birmingham, Ala., during the 2019-20 indoor campaign. All four meets are set for the Birmingham Crossplex. Birmingham-Southern is hosting Friday's meet, and after the Christmas break, the Tigers' first two meets of the spring semester are going to be hosted at the Birmingham Crossplex by Troy Jan. 26 and South Alabama Feb. 2. Memphis' final meet in Birmingham is the American Athletic Conference Championships Feb. 27-29.
This is the first season Memphis opens an indoor campaign at the BSC Icebreaker since 2012-13. It also the first time the Tigers begin an indoor season on a Friday since that same BSC Icebreaker in 2012-13 (Nov. 30, 2012).
The Tigers open their 2019-20 indoor season Friday, Dec. 6. It's the third latest December start to an indoor season in the 21^stcentury. Memphis began its 2001-02 campaign Dec. 8 and its 2003-04 season Dec. 7.
The Tigers return only two performers that set indoor school records in 2019-20. Sir Newton Lee holds the men's indoor 400-meters mark. On the women's side, DeeNia McMiller set the women's indoor record in the weight throw.
Memphis returns eight All-American Athletic Conference indoor honorees (top-3 finish at the championships) from 2019-20. DeeNia McMiller (weight throw) and Cyera Gordon (long jump) earned all-league distinction on the women's side. For the Tigers men's team, Adam Neelly (shot put), Adar Sheere (weight throw), Tate Wyatt (distance medley relay), Calvin Austin III (4x400m), Sir Newton Lee (400m/4x400m) and Zachary Wyatt (mile/distance medley relay) were all-conference performers a year ago.
The Tigers men's squad will be without the services of Calvin Austin III until January. Austin also is a member of the No. 16 nationally ranked Memphis football team, which is playing for the American Athletic Conference Championship at the Liberty Bowl Saturday.