Track and Field Set for Razorback Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Mississippi State track and field has traveled to Arkansas to compete next at the Razorback Invitational, taking place on Friday and Saturday.

After the finish at the Carolina Challenge, head coach Chris Woods said that the Razorback Invite would be "the first really big meet of the season" for the Bulldogs, and he's correct with student-athletes in the entries from Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Iowa State, Ole Miss, Oregon, and USC.

"If we combine our last two meets and look at our season up to this point, we've had some good performances," said head coach Chris Woods. "It lets the coaching staff know that we're headed in the right direction as well as our student-athletes and come with some confidence and are ready to compete. Our expectation this weekend is to compete at a really high level. They're going to score this meet, and that gives us an opportunity to see how we stack up against some of the best programs in the country. It'll give our athletes the opportunity to see they too are part of one of the better programs in the country. We get to show what we're made of and gain confidence as we move into the latter half of our season."

Many veterans are seeing competition for the first time this season in Fayetteville, with Faith Gilbert participating in the 200m and the 60m dash, as well as Silvia de la Pena Garibay and Sylvia Russell running in the 5000m and the 3000m.

With veterans returning, there are also many freshmen continually seeing competition. Jordan Barrow, Shacquille Lowe, Shamar Rose and Terry Smith Jr. have been staples in the short sprints thus far. Amy Warren will be competing in the long jump for the first time but returns to the triple jump and 60m dash. Jada McDougle will see her first competition in the 60m as well. Rosealee Cooper, who moved into State's all-time top five in the 60m hurdles, competes again in her event.

This will be the first meet of the season where the Bulldogs will compete in the pentathlon and heptathlon, with Jesse Henderson, Shayla Broughton, Asia Poe and Aley Woodberry up for the task. Last season, Henderson's best in the heptathlon was at the SEC Championships, finishing with 4,221 points. For the ladies, their bests in the pentathlon also came at the Championships, with Broughton finishing with 3,966, Poe with 3,950, and Woodberry with 3,722 points.

Henderson, Broughton and freshman Cooper are each ranked nationally in their respective events; Henderson in the 60m hurdles, Broughton in the long jump, and Cooper in the 60m hurdles.

"Rosealee being ranked nationally is a great thing," said Woods. "She still has some work she needs to do if she wants to guarantee a spot in that National Championship meet as well as put herself in scoring contention at the Conference and National meet."

With both Henderson and Broughton also being ranked, "it just shows how hard work and perseverance pays off. They have both had trials and tribulations dealing with injuries and minor setbacks here and there. They are shining examples that as long as you continue working toward your ultimate goal, you'll eventually get there. They deserve it, but we haven't reached the end of the road. This weekend will be a great indication of what they can do for the remainder of the season."

Friday's action will begin with the multis, the heptathlon beginning first at 11:45 a.m. with the 60m dash and the pentathlon beginning shortly after at 12:10 p.m. with the 60m hurdles once the men's event has concluded.

Saturday starts with two of the last three heptathlon events at 10:15 a.m., with all other action starting at 12:30 with the women's 60m hurdles prelims. The final event of the day is scheduled to begin at 3:50 p.m.

Live results will be provided by Flash Results, with the final compiled results posted after competition wraps up on Saturday. The meet will also be streamed on the SECN+ both days.

For more information on the Bulldog track and field program, search "@HailStateTF" on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

Track and Field Set for Razorback Invitational

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Players Mentioned

Jordan Barrow

Shayla Broughton

Rosealee Cooper

Jesse Henderson

Shacquille Lowe

Jada McDougle

Asia Poe

Shamar Rose

Sylvia Russell

Terry Smith Jr.

Amy Warren

Alexandra Woodberry

Mississippi State University Athletics