State Splits Team For Season Opener
January 16, 2025 | Track & Field
STARKVILLE – Mississippi State track and field will open its season split between the Vanderbilt Invitational and the Samford Invite, followed by the Samford Open, all of which are being contested this weekend.
"I understand that the coaches and fans are eagerly anticipating our team's performance this weekend, but the athletes are undoubtedly the most excited," said head coach Cris Woods. "It's crucial that we seize the opportunities presented to us this weekend! We eagerly anticipate the arrival of our newcomers in Maroon and White and our returning athletes who will pick up where we left off last year having our largest-ever contingent at the Outdoor NCAA championships. We are more than ready to begin our 2025 campaign!"
The Vanderbilt Invitational will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, in the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility on Jan. 17-18. The Bulldogs will be one of five SEC teams competing at the meet. Competition for the Bulldogs will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the men's weight throw in the field and 6:50 p.m. on the track for the distance medley relay.
The Vanderbilt Invitational will be available to stream on the SEC Network. Live results for the meet can be found here.
The other half of the team will cross state lines into Birmingham, Alabama, to compete at the Samford Invite and then the Samford Open. Both meets will be contested in the Birmingham CrossPlex.
The Samford Invite takes place on Jan. 17 as a single day meet. The Bulldogs will be competing both on and off the track with competition kicking off at 10:00 a.m. in the women's weight throw, and 11:40 a.m. in the women's 60m. The day will end with both teams competing in the 4x400m relay. Live results for the meet can be found here.
The Samford Open kicks off on Jan. 18, with the women's weight and 60m starting the day at 10:00 a.m. The day will close on the track at 4:00 p.m. with the men's 200m, and at 4:30 p.m. in the field with the women's high jump. Live results for the meet can be found here.
The meets will be the first appearance of any Bulldog on the track or in the field this season. Two Outdoor All-Americans from the 2024 season, Peyton Bair and Roury McCloyen, are set to open their season this weekend. Five qualifiers from the NCAA Outdoor Championships will make their 2025 debuts in Birmingham with Kyndall Sessom, Jailyn Ware, Jessicka Woods, Keldrick Turner, Alfonso Hale Jr. and Christion Barker all competing in the oval. The 2024 SEC indoor runner-up in the high jump, Sherman Hawkins, will start his second season in maroon and white this Friday. On the heels of a stellar cross country season, Ramat Jimoh and Gabrielle Boulay are set to make some noise in the distance races in Nashville.
Vanderbilt Invitational
Meet Schedule | Live Results | Friday Livestream | Saturday Livestream
Samford Invite
Meet Schedule | Live Results
Samford Open
Meet Schedule | Live Results
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For more information on the Mississippi State track and field program, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateTF" on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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"I understand that the coaches and fans are eagerly anticipating our team's performance this weekend, but the athletes are undoubtedly the most excited," said head coach Cris Woods. "It's crucial that we seize the opportunities presented to us this weekend! We eagerly anticipate the arrival of our newcomers in Maroon and White and our returning athletes who will pick up where we left off last year having our largest-ever contingent at the Outdoor NCAA championships. We are more than ready to begin our 2025 campaign!"
The Vanderbilt Invitational will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, in the Vanderbilt Multipurpose Facility on Jan. 17-18. The Bulldogs will be one of five SEC teams competing at the meet. Competition for the Bulldogs will begin at 1:30 p.m. with the men's weight throw in the field and 6:50 p.m. on the track for the distance medley relay.
The Vanderbilt Invitational will be available to stream on the SEC Network. Live results for the meet can be found here.
The other half of the team will cross state lines into Birmingham, Alabama, to compete at the Samford Invite and then the Samford Open. Both meets will be contested in the Birmingham CrossPlex.
The Samford Invite takes place on Jan. 17 as a single day meet. The Bulldogs will be competing both on and off the track with competition kicking off at 10:00 a.m. in the women's weight throw, and 11:40 a.m. in the women's 60m. The day will end with both teams competing in the 4x400m relay. Live results for the meet can be found here.
The Samford Open kicks off on Jan. 18, with the women's weight and 60m starting the day at 10:00 a.m. The day will close on the track at 4:00 p.m. with the men's 200m, and at 4:30 p.m. in the field with the women's high jump. Live results for the meet can be found here.
The meets will be the first appearance of any Bulldog on the track or in the field this season. Two Outdoor All-Americans from the 2024 season, Peyton Bair and Roury McCloyen, are set to open their season this weekend. Five qualifiers from the NCAA Outdoor Championships will make their 2025 debuts in Birmingham with Kyndall Sessom, Jailyn Ware, Jessicka Woods, Keldrick Turner, Alfonso Hale Jr. and Christion Barker all competing in the oval. The 2024 SEC indoor runner-up in the high jump, Sherman Hawkins, will start his second season in maroon and white this Friday. On the heels of a stellar cross country season, Ramat Jimoh and Gabrielle Boulay are set to make some noise in the distance races in Nashville.
Vanderbilt Invitational
Meet Schedule | Live Results | Friday Livestream | Saturday Livestream
Samford Invite
Meet Schedule | Live Results
Samford Open
Meet Schedule | Live Results
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For more information on the Mississippi State track and field program, visit HailState.com and follow "HailStateTF" on X (formerly Twitter), Instagram and Facebook.
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Players Mentioned
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Friday, February 24
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