Arkansas coach Mike Anderson talked about the Commodores, who the Razorbacks played three times last season.
KNWA VIDEO: Van Horn after Swatters Club
VIDEO FROM KNWA
Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn visited with the media following his address to the first meeting of the Swatter’s Club on Thursday.
Top-ranked Hogs face challenges at home, on road
FAYETTEVILLE — No. 1 in the national polls for the second-consecutive week Arkansas looks to maintain its top-ranked stature, in search of improved performances this weekend in Fayetteville at the Tyson Invitational and on the road in Seattle, Washington at the Husky Classic.
“The majority of the crew will be here this weekend, while with distance it’s almost mandated that you have to go to Washington to get a qualifying time,” head coach Lance Harter said. “It’s nice to be highly thought of [in reference to No. 1 rank]. We have balance across the board and we’re a pretty potent team. Will all those points come at the national meet, well they’re harder to come by at that meet but we’re definitely in the conversation.”
Tyson Teams
Well-known as one of the most competitive indoor meets in the country for the sprints and field events the Tyson Invitational will see the Razorbacks match up against 31 collegiate programs and several of the top professional athletes from around the world. Out of the 32 programs (Arkansas included) competing at the Randal Tyson Track Center this weekend six are nationally ranked among the top-25 best in the country including: No. 1 Arkansas, No. 7 LSU, No. 9 Texas, No. 14 Missouri, No. 16 Baylor and No. 23 Indiana.
Date/Time: Friday, Feb. 9, 4:30 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 10, 1:30 p.m.
Venue: Randal Tyson Track Center
Tickets: $5 for Adults, 17 and under free
Important Links: Meet Schedule | Live Results | SEC+ (Fri.) | SEC+ (Sat.)
Events to Watch Tyson:
Friday
• 5:15 p.m./6:25 p.m. | 60 Meter Hurdles Prelims/Finals
Featured Razorback: Payton Chadwick (PR: 8.09)
• 5:30 p.m. | Long Jump Invitational
Featured Razorback: Taliyah Brooks (PR: 21-3)
• 5:50 p.m./6:35 p.m. | 60 Meters Prelims/Finals
Featured Razorback: Jada Baylark (PR: 7.24)
Saturday
• 3:00 p.m. | 200 Meters Invitational
Featured Razorback: Payton Chadwick (PR: 22.99)
• 3:00 p.m. | Pole Vault Invitational
Featured Razorback: Lexi Jacobus (PR: 4.64m/15-2 3/4)
Husky Classic
Sophomore Taylor Werner headlines a group of six Razorbacks journeying to Seattle this weekend for stiff competition in the distance events at the Husky Classic. Werner heads into the meet looking to improve upon her 3,000-meter performance (9:10.40), which currently ranks her at No. 13 in the NCAA. The meet will feature several nationally ranked powers including: No. 1 Arkansas, No. 3 Oregon, No. 9 Texas, No. 12 Stanford and No. 18 Tennessee.
“We want to give her [Taylor Werner] the opportunity to run with somebody,” Harter said. “So we’re looking forward to Taylor getting a good 3,000 under her belt this weekend.”
Date/Time: Friday, Feb. 9, 6 p.m. | Saturday, Feb. 5 p.m.
Venue: Dempsey Indoor Track
Important Links: WatchFloTrack (subscription required) | Heat Sheets
Events to Watch Husky Classic:
Friday
• 7:45 p.m. | 5,000 Meters
Featured Razorback: Sydney Brown (PR: 16:24.81)
Saturday
• 3:15 p.m. | Mile
Featured Razorback: Carina Viljoen (PR: 4:46.01)
• 6:20 p.m. | 3,000 Meters Invitational
Featured Razorback: Taylor Werner (PR: 9:06.34)
Hogs head south for weekend match with ’Horns, Mustangs
FAYETTEVILLE — Victors of three straight matches, including a doubleheader sweep in its last outing, Arkansas hits the road for two matches this weekend in the Lone Star State.
Arkansas begin the weekend with a 1 p.m. serve at SMU on Friday, before traveling further south to Austin, Texas, for another 1 p.m. match with the 16th-ranked Texas Longhorns.
Last season, Arkansas hosted the Mustangs and Longhorns, falling to both at home. SMU held off the Razorbacks 4-3, while the fourth-ranked Longhorns defeated Arkansas 5-2.
On Wednesday, Jose Alonso was tabbed as the SEC Freshman of the Week, after earning a 6-1, 6-3 win at the No. 6 spot to give Arkansas the 3-1 lead over Wichita State. After the Shockers fought back to tie the match 3-3, his older brother, Pedro, would clinch the win for Arkansas with a 6-4 third set win at No. 4.
After opening his freshman campaign with a 1-4 record, J. Alonso has won each of his last two singles matches and picked up another win by forfeit against Saint Louis.
Senior Jose Salazar moved up 54 spots in the ITA/Oracle singles rankings to No. 59 in the country, after winning six of his first seven matches this spring, including each of the last four. Salazar is a perfect 2-0 this season at the top spot against ranked opponents.
Another Top 15 matchup for Hogs at Barnhill on Friday night
FAYETTEVILLE — Tenth-ranked Arkansas returns home for the third time this season for its third-straight top-15 matchup, this time against 15th-ranked Auburn Friday at 7 p.m inside Barnhill Arena.
“The focus is definitely protecting our house,” said assistant coach Garrett Griffeth. “We’re back home in our environment, in front of our fans. I think our biggest thing is to just continue to progress from week to week. We’re excited to be back in front of our home crowd.”
How They Compare (Season Averages)
Vault: Auburn- 49.085, Arkansas- 49.000
Bars: Auburn- 49.035, Arkansas- 48.980
Beam: Arkansas- 49.230, Auburn- 49.070
Floor: Arkansas- 49.100, Auburn- 48.850
Total: Arkansas- 196.310, Auburn- 196.040
The matchup will be Arkansas’ sixth-consecutive conference meet to begin the season, the only team in the conference to compete against only SEC foes in all meets this season. The Razorbacks have scored its highest scores on the road and at home the past two weeks with a 197.175 against Georgia and a 196.350 last week at Alabama.
“That’s what the great teams do,” said Griffeth. “They peak every single week, they are at the top every single week. Our biggest thing is to improve week to week. Focusing on those small improvements, not necessarily comparing yourself to the top, but to where you were last week.”
The Razorbacks recorded its fourth-straight score over 196 at Alabama, posting a 196.350 in Tuscaloosa. Its the fifth time in program history that Arkansas has had four-straight scores over 196, joining such streaks during the 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2016 seasons.
Freshman Sarah Shaffer earned the third weekly honor in four weeks for the Razorbacks, as she was named the SEC Freshman of the Week following her 39.350 all-around performance against the Crimson Tide. Shaffer first won the award Jan. 16 following Arkansas’ meet against Kentucky, while fellow freshman Sophia Carter was named Specialist of the Week (Jan. 30) following her record performance against Georgia.
Arkansas remained one of the top beam squads in the country, coming in at No. 5 in the nation on the event with an average of 49.230. The Razorbacks have been ranked in the top 5 on the event since the start of the season. Freshman Sophia Carter continues to lead the team, averaging a 9.880 as Arkansas’ highest individual ranked No. 14 on the event. In total, five Razorbacks are in the top-100 individual rankings, including Shaffer (No. 99), who recorded a 9.900 at Alabama on beam.
Promotions
It’s Daddy-Daughter Princess Date Night and all kids are encouraged to wear their favorite princess costumes to the meet plus the first 150 kids will get a light up princess tiara. Miss University of Arkansas will be signing autographs in the north lobby beginning at 5:30 p.m., and the team will sign autographs immediately following the meet.
Morris talks about Hogs’ signees on Signing Day
Arkansas coach Chad Morris is pleased with the 16 new Razorbacks and breaks down all of the signees on National Signing Day.
