Spring Break
Tyson Invitational brings world-class athletes to Fayetteville
Matt Watson
Issue date: 2/8/07 Section: Sports
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Olympians, world record holders and the country's finest collegiate athletes will flock to the Randal Tyson Track Center this weekend for the eighth annual Tyson Invitational.
"This is one of the highlight meets of track and field in the United States," said Lady'Back track coach Lance Harter.
Arkansas will receive national attention this weekend when Friday night's spectacle is televised 11 a.m. Sunday on ESPN2.
Aside from the national exposure and lure of competing with the world's top athletes, the big prize is a $50,000 bonus for any individual or group who breaks a world record in any event.
The world record bonus is twice the amount offered last winter, which former Razorback and Fayetteville native Wallace Spearmon took advantage of twice by setting the world mark in the 300-meter dash and running the second leg of a record-setting 4x400-meter relay.
As for the prize money being doubled for 2007's event, Spearmon said he might be just a little bit happier.
"You're in for a good show," Spearmon said.
The feature events this year are the women's 300 meters, men's 400 meters and men's 4x400-meter relay. There could be three world records set in those races, said Tyson Invitational meet director Art Huff.
Only three current Razorbacks will race Friday. Adam Perkins will run the men's mile and Peter Kosgei and Scott MacPherson will participate in the 5,000 meters.
"It's like putting a basketball player in a field of Michael Jordans," said Arkansas men's track coach John McDonnell, who wants to limit the number of collegians in Friday's stiff field.
"It's two hours of the best competition in the world on the world's best track," McDonnell said.
Seven former Razorbacks will race this weekend including Spearmon, Alistair Cragg, Sarah Schwald, Christin Thomas, Tyson Gay, Veronica Campbell and April Steiner.
The top college teams will take center stage Saturday, including 15 of the Top 20 from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll, including No. 1 Florida State, No. 3 Auburn and No. 5 Texas.
"This is one of the highlight meets of track and field in the United States," said Lady'Back track coach Lance Harter.
Arkansas will receive national attention this weekend when Friday night's spectacle is televised 11 a.m. Sunday on ESPN2.
Aside from the national exposure and lure of competing with the world's top athletes, the big prize is a $50,000 bonus for any individual or group who breaks a world record in any event.
The world record bonus is twice the amount offered last winter, which former Razorback and Fayetteville native Wallace Spearmon took advantage of twice by setting the world mark in the 300-meter dash and running the second leg of a record-setting 4x400-meter relay.
As for the prize money being doubled for 2007's event, Spearmon said he might be just a little bit happier.
"You're in for a good show," Spearmon said.
The feature events this year are the women's 300 meters, men's 400 meters and men's 4x400-meter relay. There could be three world records set in those races, said Tyson Invitational meet director Art Huff.
Only three current Razorbacks will race Friday. Adam Perkins will run the men's mile and Peter Kosgei and Scott MacPherson will participate in the 5,000 meters.
"It's like putting a basketball player in a field of Michael Jordans," said Arkansas men's track coach John McDonnell, who wants to limit the number of collegians in Friday's stiff field.
"It's two hours of the best competition in the world on the world's best track," McDonnell said.
Seven former Razorbacks will race this weekend including Spearmon, Alistair Cragg, Sarah Schwald, Christin Thomas, Tyson Gay, Veronica Campbell and April Steiner.
The top college teams will take center stage Saturday, including 15 of the Top 20 from the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll, including No. 1 Florida State, No. 3 Auburn and No. 5 Texas.
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