Jan. 18, 2007

MEMPHIS - After a six week break, the University of Memphis track and field team will resume its season Friday when it travels to the University of Kentucky for the Rod McCravy Memorial.

The meet will be the first for the Tigers since the Arkansas State Kickoff Klassic in December. First year head coach Kevin Robinson was pleased with the results in his team's first competition of the year. The Tigers and Lady Tigers set four new school records at ASU, and 2005 All-American Gail Lee provisionally qualified for the NCAA Championships in the shot put with her first throw of the season.

This weekend's meet will feature tough competition, and Robinson knows that his athletes will have to perform at their top level to be recognized with some of the nation's elite squads.

"We looked good in our opening meet, but this is going to be a huge event with big time competition", said Robinson. "Regardless of where we are now, we're going to have to step it up this weekend."

The Tigers will have at least one new face in competition this weekend. Norweigan thrower Steffan Nerdal will compete for Memphis in the shot put, and Australian import Toby Rayner may run for the Tigers in the middle distance events.

"It should be an interesting weekend," said Robinson. "We scheduled tough competition because we want to challenge ourselves, and this meet should give us a good idea of exactly where we are.

The McRavy Memorial will open Friday afternoon and continue all day Saturday. Fans can follow the results online at http://live.ukathletics.com/2006/track/011907/index.htm.