April 2, 2010

Memphis, Tenn. – The University of Memphis track and field squad travels to Cape Girardeau, Mo., for the 29^th annual Joey Haines Invitational on Friday and Saturday at the Abe Stuber Track and Field Complex on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University.

 The Tigers have competed in two outdoor meets to date, collecting 60 top-10 performances. With the 60 top-10 performances, 28 have been in the top-five. In the weekly Conference USA rankings, the Tigers have 44 men’s and women’s student-athletes ranked in the top-10 of their respective events with 22 being in the top-five.

The level of competition at the Joey Haines Invitational will feature several regional schools. Missouri Valley State, Western Illinois University, Southern Illinois University, Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville, Arkansas State, Murray State, Central Arkansas, Missouri State and Lincoln will join the Tigers for the competition.

The lone event on Friday at the Joey Haines Invitational will be the men’s and women’s hammer throw competition. Three-time All-American Steffen Nerdal will make his season debut and first appearance outdoors since the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships.

Saturday’s events begin with the women’s long jump at 10:00 a.m. and the running events get started at 11:30 a.m. with the 5,000m run. The men’s and women’s javelin competition at 2:30 p.m. will be the last field event to start while running events conclude with the men’s and women’s  1,600m relay at 3:55 p.m.