Hurdlers, jumpers set to tackle Tyson Invitational
February 12, 2010 | Women's Track & Field
Feb. 12, 2010
MADISON, Wis. -- While the majority of the Wisconsin women's track and field team takes part in the Iowa State Classic this weekend, assistant coach Nate Davis travels his hurdles and jumps groups to compete in the Tyson Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark.
The elite competition blends many of the nation's top collegiate athletes in with a field of world-class professionals for an extremely competitive field. The two-day event also offers collegians a preview of next month's NCAA Indoor Championships, which also will be held inside the Randal Tyson Track Center.
| Tyson Invitational | |
| Dates | Friday-Saturday, Feb. 12-13 | Noon / Noon |
| Location | Fayetteville, Ark. | Randal Tyson Track Center |
| Meet Info | Final Schedule  | Start Lists |
| Live Coverage | Live Results | Webcast (subscription required) |
| Rankings | USTFCCCA National Team Rankings | Regional Team Index |
| Performance Lists | NCAA | Big Ten |
| UWBadgers.com | Meet Notes | Performance List |
A total of 11 UW athletes are making the trip to Fayetteville, led by seniors Chavon Robinson, Megan Seidl and Jenny Soceka.
All three will compete in special invitational sections of their events.
Seidl is one of just seven athletes to go over the 6-foot mark this season after clearing a school-record height of 6-0 3/4 two weeks ago and enters the weekend in a tie for fourth place nationally in the high jump.
This weekend, she faces a field in the invitational high jump that includes two of the others who have done so. Nebraska's Epley Bullock stands just ahead of Seidl in the national rankiings at No. 3 with a season-best mark of 6-1 1/2, while Indiana's Ashley Rhoades is just behind Seidl in the rankings at 6-0 1/2.
Wisconsin sophomore Monika Jakutyte also is in the field for the invitational section.
Robinson will compete in the invitational triple jump and enters the meet ranked No. 9 nationally in the event at 42 feet, 8 inches. Three of the athletes ranked above her on the national list also are in the field, including the Clemson duo of Patricia Mamona and April Sinkler, who rank No. 2 and No. 5, respectively, in the event.
Robinson also is slated to compete in the collegiate section of the long jump. She already owns an NCAA provisional qualifying mark in the event, but likely will need to improve her mark to earn a place at the national meet.
Soceka is in a similar position in the pole vault, as her season-best clearance of 13-1 1/2 at last weekend's New Balance Collegiate likely is not enough to qualify for the NCAA meet. She will have the opportunity to improve her mark this weekend against an outstanding field that includes three of the nation's top-10 vaulters this season.
Along with Robinson, the Badgers will compete senior LaQuita Brazil and sophomores Jordan Helgren and Dorcas Akinniyi in the long jump.
Brazil and Helgren also are entered in the collegiate section of the triple jump, while Akinniyi will join junior Kate Flood in the collegiate high jump.
On the track, Akinniyi also is scheduled to run with junior Egle Staisiunaite, sophomore Jessica Flax and freshman Natalie Tarter in the 60-meter hudles.
Flax and Staisiunaite also will compete in the 200 meters, as well.
