Track And Field Heads To Tuscaloosa For Crimson Tide Invite

STARKVILLE, Miss. - For the second weekend in a row, the Mississippi State track and field teams will head to Tuscaloosa, this time to compete in the Crimson Tide Invitational.

Last weekend in the Alabama Relays, the MSU teams brought home a combined seven event wins. This weekend they look to capture even more.

“We saw a lot of strong performances at the Alabama Relays, and we also saw where we needed to improve,” MSU coach Steve Dudley said. “We are looking forward to competing again this weekend. I feel that we have a talented and completive group representing MSU.”

This weekend 47 athletes are set to represent MSU in multiple events through the course of the meet.

After clearing 7-03 in the high jump at the Alabama Relays, Marcus Jackson currently holds the nation’s best clearance in the event. Jackson will again be competing in the high jump for the Bulldogs this weekend alongside teammates Seth Peace and A.J. Ward. On the women’s side will be Deja Givens and Logan Boss. Boss holds the 16^th best clearance in the nation after last weekend when she cleared 5-08.75.

Currently holding the nation’s third fastest time is Scottie Hearn, who ran a time of 51.11 in the 400m hurdles last weekend. Hearn, along with Jovan Davis, Dustin James II and Wesley White, will be competing in the 400m hurdles, while Ocian Archer competes on the women’s side.

Making her MSU outdoor debut last weekend for the Bulldogs, freshman Tiffany Flynn worked her way into the MSU record book with a leap of 40-11.75 in the triple jump. Her leap ranks fourth in MSU history and is currently the fifth best in the nation. Senior Ebony Brinker will be making her 2015 outdoor debut as well, participating in the triple jump at the Crimson Tide Invite.

Also in the field for MSU, Sydney Rodkey and Chelsea McDaniel will be competing in the pole vault Saturday. Jesse Austin and Carl Pittman will be competing for the men’s team.

In the long jump, Ward and Willie Reed will be back at it after finishing sixth and seventh, respectively, at the Alabama Relays. Flynn and Rochelle Farquharson will also be representing MSU in the long jump.

On the track, Davis and Ste'yce McNeil will be running the 110m hurdles and the 100m hurdles after they both finished first in the events at the season opener. Ward, White, Justin Pizarro, Zachary Taylor, Juston Waters, James Anderson, Arzell McCoy and Jaquarius Wilson will also be competing in the 110m hurdles. Along with McNeil in the 100m hurdles will be Archer, Flynn and Erica Bougard

Distance runners Cornelia Griesche, Emma Neigel, Carmen Brothers, Madison Milhoan, Mia Meydrich, Curtis Kelly, Patrick Monaghan, Andrew Monaghan, Branden Nosker, Mathew Dunn and Damian Roszko will be competing for the Bulldogs. Indoor honorable mention All-American Rhianwedd Price will be making her outdoor season debut on Saturday in the 800m run.

Both MSU teams will also be competing in the 4x100m relay and the 4x400m relay.

Other SEC schools in attendance will be Auburn and South Carolina along with host Alabama.

The Maroon and White are set to begin field events at 1 p.m. CT, and running events at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The meet will be held at the Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium on the UA campus.

For more information on the MSU track and field teams visit HailState.com and follow on Twitter (@HailStateTF).

Complete MSU Event List:

Women’s Team

100m Dash: Euricka Hardy

100m Hurdles: Erica Bougard; Ste'yce McNei; Ocian Archer; Tiffany Flynn

200m Dash: Euricka Hardy; Shayla Luckett

400m Dash: Erica Bougard

400m Hurdles: Ocian Archer

800m Run: Rhianwedd Price; Kimari Martin; Kaelin Kersh

1500m Run: Cornelia Griesche; Mia Meydrich;

3000m Steeplechase: Emma Neigel

High Jump: Logan Boss; Deja Givens