Friday, January 12
Birmingham, Ala.
All Day
Mississippi State
vs
UAB Blazer Invite (I)
MSU opens the indoor season Friday at the Blazor Invitational in Birmingham.
MSU's Indoor Season Starts Friday In Birmingham
January 11, 2018 | Track & Field
STARKVILLE, Miss. — There's no coincidence, Steve Dudley is quick to point out, that success in the classroom correlates into accomplishments on the track.
It's a trend he's seen firsthand at Mississippi State, as well as his time at Belvill State Community College.
So when asked about character and leadership, the MSU coach didn't hesitate with his answer.
"I'm not worried, and when I'm asked why, I say look at what these kids did in the classroom this fall," he said.
They excelled.
His women's team, ranked No. 15 in the preseason polls, posted an overall 3.45 GPA, while the men had a 3.2.
"When we do well in class, we do well on the track," he said. "It's discipline. When you put more work into your studies, you tend to have more success in your sport. And these kids have chosen to be successful."
The road to success on the track begins Friday at the Birmingham CrossPlex when the indoor teams make their debut at the Blazer Invite. Then on Saturday, they will compete at the Vulcan Invite.
UAB will host both meets.
"These are great events to open the year," Dudley said. "Friday will be more unconventional. There will be the 300, 500, 600 and 1,000 meter runs, and Day 2 will be more traditional.
"Friday will be more fun and not as pressure packed. It will let us know and the athletes know if they are fit or coming off the holidays not where they need to be."
It's hard for Dudley not to be excited for the season.
It all starts with multi All-Americans Logan Boss (high jump), Tiffany Flynn (triple jump) and Rhianwedd Price, along with throwers Brianna Smith and Alicia Viveros.
On the men's side, it starts with sprinter Stephen James, whose specialty is the 400m and the 4x400 team that features 10 men to choose from. It's a relay Dudley expects to advance to the nationals.
He's also excited about the arrival of freshman Marco Arop, a Canadian who specializes in the 800m run and finished second in the Pan Am Junior games.
"That's the only time he's never won," Dudley said. "This will be a huge adjustment for him. He's not just going to blowout everyone. At first, he's probably going to lose more than he wins. But if he can weather the storm, we'll back to where he was with all the wins."
After this weekend, the Bulldogs are back in action at the Vanderbilt Invitational in Nashville.
It's a trend he's seen firsthand at Mississippi State, as well as his time at Belvill State Community College.
So when asked about character and leadership, the MSU coach didn't hesitate with his answer.
"I'm not worried, and when I'm asked why, I say look at what these kids did in the classroom this fall," he said.
They excelled.
His women's team, ranked No. 15 in the preseason polls, posted an overall 3.45 GPA, while the men had a 3.2.
"When we do well in class, we do well on the track," he said. "It's discipline. When you put more work into your studies, you tend to have more success in your sport. And these kids have chosen to be successful."
The road to success on the track begins Friday at the Birmingham CrossPlex when the indoor teams make their debut at the Blazer Invite. Then on Saturday, they will compete at the Vulcan Invite.
UAB will host both meets.
"These are great events to open the year," Dudley said. "Friday will be more unconventional. There will be the 300, 500, 600 and 1,000 meter runs, and Day 2 will be more traditional.
"Friday will be more fun and not as pressure packed. It will let us know and the athletes know if they are fit or coming off the holidays not where they need to be."
It's hard for Dudley not to be excited for the season.
It all starts with multi All-Americans Logan Boss (high jump), Tiffany Flynn (triple jump) and Rhianwedd Price, along with throwers Brianna Smith and Alicia Viveros.
On the men's side, it starts with sprinter Stephen James, whose specialty is the 400m and the 4x400 team that features 10 men to choose from. It's a relay Dudley expects to advance to the nationals.
He's also excited about the arrival of freshman Marco Arop, a Canadian who specializes in the 800m run and finished second in the Pan Am Junior games.
"That's the only time he's never won," Dudley said. "This will be a huge adjustment for him. He's not just going to blowout everyone. At first, he's probably going to lose more than he wins. But if he can weather the storm, we'll back to where he was with all the wins."
After this weekend, the Bulldogs are back in action at the Vanderbilt Invitational in Nashville.
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