By Lindsay Cash
Reporter
After both the men and women’s track teams received Top 25 spots [PDF] for this week, Baylor prepares to travel to participate in the Razorback Invitational on Jan. 28 and 29 at the University of Arkansas Randal Tyson Track Center.
With the brand new surface on one of the NCAA’s fastest tracks, the Razorbacks are eager to put the competing and contending sprinters to the test.
Ranked No. 12 nationally, the Arkansas track and field team shows no signs of holding back in its home meet. The Razorbacks have invited an array of competitive universities from the SEC and Big 12 conferences. This invitational undoubtedly serves as a revving competition for Bears fans.
Along with No. 25 Baylor, six other top-25 ranked teams will also be attending, including No. 1 LSU, No 8 Stanford, No. 9 Florida State, No. 11 Nebraska, No. 18 Texas and No. 19 Oklahoma State. Arizona, TCU and Iowa are also attending.
The Bears have continued to perform at a pleasing rate, and it shows.
The United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association deemed both the Baylor women and men No. 25 nationally. These rankings are based off of current student-athlete performances at last year’s NCAA Championships, as well as the performances this season.
Baylor has 15 student-athletes ranked in the top 50, and it doesn’t plan on stopping there. Consistent improvement and healthy preparation are on the agenda for coach Todd Harbour and his team.
“Staying healthy is our main focus, and we’re where we need to be to succeed in Arkansas,” Harbour said.
With sophomore Skylar White continuing on from her personal best throw at 55 feet, 8.25 inches, she is looking forward to the indoor competition. Senior Marcus Boyd accompanies her, with the NCAA’s second-fastest 400-meter time of the year at 46.77 seconds.
Whitney Prevost and Jessica Ubanyionwu are also ranked in the top 10. Prevost is fourth in 200 meters, and Ubanyionwu holds ninth in the triple jump at 41-5.75.
Woodrow Randall was able to grab the 24th best 200-meter time in the country at his first-ever meet in uniform with a time of 21.36.
Reflecting on the solid performances at the Texas A&M Challenge, the women are set for success and continual improvement at this weekend’s meet. Freshman Tiffani McReynolds stands at No. 12 nationally after breaking an 11-year school record in the 60-meter hurdles with a time of 8.35 seconds. Diamond Richardson reached a national top-10 time in the 400 meters at 54.52. Transfer Brittany OgunMokun currently resides at 12th in the NCAA with her 800-meter time of 2:10:98.
The meet in Arkansas is scheduled to begin with multi-events at 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Field events begin at 3 p.m. Saturday, followed by the running preliminaries at 6 p.m. Saturday’s events will begin at 11 a. m. and end with the running finals.
