No. 2 Hogs kick off indoor with Arkansas Invitational

Fayetteville — Preseason second-ranked Arkansas begins its 2018 indoor season as the Razorbacks host the Arkansas Invitational beginning at 1 p.m. Friday inside the Tyson Track Center.

Who: #2 Arkansas, Arkansas Baptist, Coffeyville CC, Missouri Southern, Oral Roberts, Texas Tech and Tulsa
Entry: Adults $5, Youth 17 under admitted free
Important Links: Live Results | Meet Schedule | SEC+
Promotions: Track Capital of the World posters and magnets pick up

Leading the charge for the Razorbacks this season will be three All-American multi-event performers in Taliyah Brooks, Payton Stumbaugh-Chadwick and Kelsey Herman while All-American pole vault trio of Desiree Freier, Tori (Weeks) Hoggard and Lexi (Weeks) Jacobus also look to be impact contributors for Arkansas this season.

Events to Watch:     

60 Meters
Featured Razorbacks: Kiara Parker (PR: 7.36) and Jada Baylark (PR:7.46)
The 60-meter dash features young short sprinters in Kiara Parker and Jada Baylark both who capped their 2017 campaign as national qualifiers in the 100-meter dash.

400 Meters
Featured Razorbacks: Morgan Burks-Magee (PR: 54.03)
Arkansas will get its first glimpse at the promise of Morgan Burks-Magee who will be racing former Razorback top quarter-milers Sparkle McKnight and Daina Harper. Both McKnight and Harper qualified for the IWF World Championships for Trinidad and Tobago and the United States, respectively.

600 Meters
Featured Razorbacks: Joy Ripslinger (PR: N/A) and Chrishuna Williams (PR: N/A)
Davenport, Iowa native Joy Ripslinger will flex her middle distance prowess alongside former Razorback and 800-meter Olympian Chrisuana Williams. Riplsinger capped her career as a prep as a New Balance indoor nationals All-American.

Mile
Featured Razorbacks: Taylor Werner (PR: N/A) and Ashton Endsley (PR: N/A)
A national qualifier in all three seasons, during her freshman year, distance standout Taylor Werner will look to get some distance work opening up in the mile. Werner will be joined by Abilene, Texas native Ashton Endlsey who excelled in the event during her time competing at the high school level.

60M Hurdles
Featured Razorbacks: Payton Stumbaugh-Chadwick (PR: 8.09) and Janeek Brown (PR: N/A)
The 60-meter hurdles will feature the return of top Arkansas hurdler Payton Stumbaugh-Chadwick, who redshirted during the 2017 season due to injury. Stumbaugh-Chadwick will be pushed by Razorback recruit Jamaican Janeek Brown who joins the Hogs after international success as a Jamaican prep.

Indoor Home Slate
Arkansas Invitational, Friday, Jan. 12
Razorback Invitational, Friday and Saturday, Jan. 26-27
Tyson Invitational, Friday and Saturday, Feb. 9-10
Arkansas Qualifier, Friday, Feb. 16