Track Returns To Familiar Grounds At Razorback Invitational

Friday, January 28

Fayetteville, AR

All Day

University of Georgia

Razorback Invitational

Photo by: Michael Wade

Track Returns To Familiar Grounds At Razorback Invitational

January 27, 2022 | Track & Field

Razorback Invitational Schedule Razorback Invitational Heat Sheets

ATHENS, Ga. --- Georgia's track and field teams will compete at the Razorback Invitational for the third year in a row in Fayetteville, Ark., on Friday and Saturday.

The Bulldogs, who have made at least one trip a year to Arkansas' campus during indoors since 2015, will open with junior Kyle Garland in the first event (60 meters) of the seven-event heptathlon at 12:45 p.m. ET on Friday.  The first four events are scheduled for Friday with the last three starting on Saturday morning.  Garland is the two-time defending Southeastern Conference heptathlon champion and was the 2021 NCAA runner-up after scoring the fifth-best tally in NCAA history last year (6,200 points).

Freshman Nikolai van Huyssteen starts the open events for Georgia in the men's pole vault at 4 p.m. on Friday.  The first open event on the track for UGA is the women's 600m at 7 p.m. as senior Halle McClintock attempts to build on her progress from winning the 800m last weekend.

Fresh Rankings: In the first national ranking of the season, the Bulldog men are ranked 11^th and the Georgia women stand 16^th in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) polls.

The Competition: Georgia and meet host Arkansas will join Iowa, Iowa State, LSU, Mississippi State, Missouri, Oklahoma State, Oregon, Pittsburgh, Stanford and USC in competition during the two-day meet.

Live Results: For live results to the Razorback meet, please visit: http://gado.gs/8bc

Coach Caryl's Comments: "We have had two meets to tune-up and now we will be able to truly gauge where we are with the SEC Indoor Championships less than a month away," said head coach Caryl Smith Gilbert.  "The Razorback Invitational traditionally brings some of the nation's top talent to one of the premier indoor facilities in the country, which is a recipe for prime performances. We can't wait to get to Fayetteville and pick up more marks that will put us in position to qualify for the NCAA Championships."

Who's Competing: Seventeen Georgia women and 16 Bulldog men are scheduled to travel.  In addition to McClintock, other Lady Bulldogs making the trip are: graduate transfer Jayla Kirkland, seniors Imani Carothers, Anna Marian Block, Imani Carothers, juniors Brandee Presley, Sara Bailey, Ana da Silva, redshirt sophomores Elsie Igberaese, Mia Anderson, redshirt freshmen Sophia Baker, Charlotte Augenstein and freshmen Eddiyah Frye, Kenondra Davis, Elena Kulichenko, Victoria Perrow and Bella Witt.

In addition to the first men competing, graduate transfer Ty Kunzman, seniors Alencar Pereira, Delano Dunkley, Elija Godwin, juniors Matthew Boling, Caleb Cavanaugh, Chase Condra, Wesley John, Clay Pender, Sam Bowers, redshirt sophomore Zachary Roe, sophomores Gavin Beverage, KC Heron and freshman Bryce McCray are scheduled to compete for the Bulldogs.

Honors Continue: A week after Boling was named the SEC Men's Runner of the Week (also was the USTFCCCA National Men's Athlete of the Week) and Davis split the Women's Co-Freshman of the Week honor, another Georgia team member has garnered an accolade from the league this week.

Kulichenko, a native of Odintsovo, Russia, split the SEC Women's Co-Freshman of the Week award following a win at the Samford Invite.  She cleared 1.83 meters (6 feet) on her second try in the high jump to rocket to eighth on the national list with the country's best mark for a freshman this year.

Bulldogs Making Their Debut: Two Bulldogs are scheduled to compete for the first time in red and black indoors.  Kirkland (FSU) transferred in to UGA and is expected to compete in the sprints while Kunzman (Virginia) will line up in the throws during his first official meet in red and black.

Where Does The Indoor Season Take The Dogs: Georgia has a trio of regular season meet weekends scheduled in February, starting with the Tiger Paw Invitational (Clemson, S.C.) and Music City Challenge (Nashville, Tenn.) on Feb. 11-12.

After that, the postseason begins with the SEC Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas, on Feb. 25-26.  Georgia will return to Birmingham, Ala., on March 11-12 for the NCAA Indoor Championships.  One week later, the outdoor season cranks up in Atlanta.

How To Keep Up With The Dogs: Updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams can always be found on Twitter/Instagram (UGATrack) and at georgiadogs.com.