MEET PREVIEW: Razorback Invitational

NEW ORLEANS — Buckle your seatbelts, the 2017 NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field season is about to take off.

Last weekend we had a preview of things to come at the McCravy Memorial Invitational hosted by the University of Kentucky.

This week many of those same athletes travel to Fayetteville, Arkansas for the Razorback Invitational hosted by the University of Arkansas. The meet will be broadcast live on the SEC Network on Saturday beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

QUICK LINKS: Broadcast Schedule | Meets This Weekend

You also don’t want to forget about meets like the Indiana Relays, Penn State National or the Washington Invitational either.

But there are an equal amount of men’s and women’s teams ranked in the top-25 of the latest USTFCCCA National Team Computer Rankings that will be in action inside the Randal Tyson Track Center. And that number is 9.

On the men’s side, No. 1 Florida matches up with No. 3 LSU, No. 4 Georgia, No. 5 Arkansas, No. 10 Southern California, No. 14 Texas A&M, No. 15 Tennessee, No. 17 Oklahoma State and No. 19 South Carolina.

The women’s meet is headlined by a battle between 4 top-5 teams — No. 2 Arkansas, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 Southern California and No. 5 Florida — while No. 7 LSU, No. 14 Oklahoma State, No. 16 Ole Miss, No. 17 Tennessee and No. 24 South Carolina work their way into the mix as well.

Individually, four individual NCAA champs from the 2016 indoor season as well as one relay team will be in action in their respective events (Christian Coleman, 200; Clive Pullen, triple jump, Lexi Weeks, pole vault; Kendell Williams, pentathlon; LSU’s 4×400 relay) — but that’s not all.

Let’s break it down further in order of events we’re most excited to see.

Men’s Triple Jump

Finals: Saturday, 3 p.m. ET

Three of the top-4 men in the triple jump this season — including the defending NCAA indoor champ — will compete under the bright lights of the SEC Network: Arkansas’ Clive Pullen (1st), Florida’s KeAndre Bates (3rd) and Florida’s Clayton Brown (4th).

Pullen is the defending NCAA indoor champ and has an effort this season of 16.66m (54-8). That’s good enough for a 9-inch advantage over the 2nd best jumper in the nation (Hayden McClain of Oklahoma) and a near foot advantage over Bates.

Brown, the top high jumper in the nation at the moment (2.25m/7-4½) pulls double duty this weekend and will compete against Southern California’s Randall Cunningham, who was the 2016 NCAA outdoor champ in the event.

Women’s Triple Jump

Finals: Saturday, 3 p.m. ET

Four women ranked in the top-8 of the USTFCCCA Individual Rankings will compete on Saturday — Florida’s Darielle McQueen (2nd), Florida’s Yanis David (3rd), Auburn’s Marshay Ryan (5th) and South Carolina’s Natasha Dicks (7th).

While reigning NCAA indoor champ and 2016 The Bowerman Award finalist Keturah Orji will be in attendance, she won’t be partaking in the triple jump. Orji, instead, will be competing in the long jump on Friday night at 7 p.m. ET.

Men’s 400 Meters Invitational

Finals: Saturday, 2:02 p.m. ET

There is a reason this race is the first one to be shown on the SEC Network once the broadcast window starts.

Track & field fans will see LSU’s Michael Cherry square off against Missouri’s Kahmari Montgomery. Cherry is the top-ranked man over 400 meters according to the USTFCCCA Individual Rankings and Montgomery, the freshman who won the SEC indoor title last year, is ranked 4th. This will be the debut at this distance for both.

Cherry’s teammate Lamar Bruton, who is 3rd in the USTFCCCA Individual Rankings, will compete in the open 400 earlier in the proceedings.

Women’s Long Jump

Final: Friday, 7 p.m. ET

It’s going to be an SEC-Pac-12 showdown on Friday night when three of the best long jumpers in the SEC take on one of the best in the Pac-12.

Georgia’s duo of Kate Hall (3rd USTFCCCA Individual Rankings) and Keturah Orji (t-5th) tango with Florida’s Darrielle McQueen (t-5th) and Southern California’s Margaux Jones (9th).

So far this season, Orji has the 3rd best jump in the nation and is followed closely by her new teammate Hall. McQueen sits further back in 7th.

Men’s 200 Meters

Final: Friday, 7:35 p.m. ET

Reigning NCAA indoor 200 champ Christian Coleman steps on the track in the 10th and final heat of the event. Coleman will duel with Arkansas’ Kenzo Cotton, who finished 5th in this event outdoors.

Fans will also get to see Texas A&M’s Fred Kerley, who is ranked 9th in the USTFCCCA Individual Rankings.

Women’s Pentathlon

Final: Friday & Saturday

Whenever Kendell Williams competes in the multis, it’s a treat.

That’s what this weekend will be as Williams debuts in the pentathlon at Arkansas.

Williams opened her multi season last year at the Razorback Invitational and scored 4558 points to claim 1st place. She’d later go on to win the NCAA title and set a collegiate record in the process.

This weekend Williams will be pushed by Arkansas’ Taliyah Brooks, who finished runner-up to her at NCAAs last year.

Don’t Forget About

Tatiana Gusin, Georgia — The co-NCAA leader in the high jump can break the logjam at the top of the leaderboard with a big effort this weekend. No one in the field has a seed of better than 1.84m, so Gusin might have to push herself.

Deanna Hill, Southern California — Hill is pulling double duty in the 60 and the 200. Hill is ranked 9th in the USTFCCCA Individual Rankings in the former and 10th in the latter. Mikiah Brisco and Aleia Hobbs will try to beat her to the line in the 60, while their teammate Jada Martin is her main foe in the 200.

Johnnie Jackson, LSU — The NCAA leader in the weight throw is back in the ring this weekend. Can he improve upon his mark from this past weekend? He’ll be pushed by Alex Poursanidis of Georgia, who is currently 3rd in the nation.

Raven Saunders, Ole Miss — Can The Bowerman Award finalist in 2016 break her own collegiate record? Saunders is a threat to do so every time she steps in the circle.