Track & Field Begins Indoor Season In Baton Rouge
January 07, 2016 | Track & Field
STARKVILLE, Miss. – With 26 athletes slated for competition, the Mississippi State track and field teams begin the 2016 indoor season at the Purple Tiger Invite on Friday at LSU.
Six freshman athletes will make their MSU debut at the meet, including Vince Castillo, Alon Lewis, Leah Lott, Ro'Derick Spears, Rasheed Tatham and Zaria Tillman.
“We have a lot of talented newcomers this season I feel will contribute to the team's success,” MSU coach Steve Dudley said. “We also have a lot of veteran athletes who have seen success and have showed lots of leadership on these teams. We're excited to get the season underway and prepare for a successful year.”
First up on the track for the Maroon and White will be Spears, Jesse Austin, Willie Reed, Zachary Taylor and Wesley White in the 60m hurdles. On the women's side in the 60m hurdles will be Lott, Tillman, Tiffany Flynn and Ste'yce McNeil.
Following the 60m hurdles, Lott, Tillman, Spears, White, Charles Taylor, Zachary Taylor and Juston Waters will represent MSU in the 60m dash.
Lewis, Kaelin Kersh, Kimari Martin and Madison Milhoan will take part in the women's 4x800m relay before McNeil and Tillman take on the 600m run. Castillo, Tatham, Dustin James II, and Alfred Larry will also be in the 600m run for the men's team.
In the field for the Bulldogs will be juniors Haley Reynolds and Brianna Smith in the weight throw. Reynolds will also be competing in the shot put, along with Reed and Zachary Taylor.
Pole vault school record holder, Sydney Rodkey, will be competing in the event on the women's side, while Jesse Austin competes for the men.
Reed, Seth Peace, Logan Boss and Deja Givens will all be partaking in the high jump at the meet. Boss enters her sophomore season with MSU after capturing the freshman record in the high jump after clearing 5-08.75 last season.
Representing MSU in the long jump will be A.J. Ward, Flynn and Lott.
Competition begins with the men's 60m hurdles and the weight throw at 3:30 p.m. CT on Jan. 8. MSU will be the only team attending the meet from the SEC except for host LSU. Other teams in attendance include Louisiana Lafayette, Meridian, New Orleans, Nicholls State, Northwestern State, Sam Houston State, Southeastern, Texas Southern and Tulane.
For more information on the MSU track and field teams visit HailState.com and follow on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter (@HailStateTF).
