MAGNOLIA, Ark. - Split up, but not divided will be the Southern Arkansas University Track & Field Teams this weekend as the track and field teams will both be competing, just not in the same location. Members of the Mulerider track team will be heading back to Nacogdoches, Texas to compete in the SFA Earl Milner Invitational for certain running events only, while a select few of the SAU throwers will be partaking in the Little Rock Twilight at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. 

The male competitors heading to Little Rock will be Nick Gonzalez, Micheal Jones, Carson Nichols, Kris Shumaker, Darius Trimble, and Ja'Kamron Zackery. For the women, Kailyn Thomas and Irieyanna Wilson will be the duo heading to the Natural State capital city. Zackery, Shumaker, Nichols, and K. Thomas are all coming off hot performances while at SFA last weekend and look to take advantage of the last-minute scheduled trip to UALR. The meet will be broadcasted on ESPN+ starting Friday at 4 p.m.

As stated previously, heading back to Nacogdoches, TX will be the track competitors for the Muleriders to partake in different sprints and relay events.
The men taking the trip will be led by the most recent GAC Track Athlete of the Week, Travon Johnson. Johnson is still cooling off from his showing at the Carl Knight Invitational. The Texas finished in fourth-place for the 200m dash after recording his new personal record time of 21.56 and followed that up with a 7^th place tie in the 100m dash with a time only .01 behind his personal record 10.67. Travon is the first GAC Track and Field weekly award winner for the Muleriders since Kobe Gill last achieved a similar title in March of 2021.

The SAU Men's Track Team will have nine runners riding the bus for the invitational. Javis Williams will also be taking the trip after he recorded himself a new PR in the 400m dash after he clocked in a 49.90. Brandon Sofi is a name to look for as well since he is coming off a PR performance in the 110m hurdles with his time of 15.35. Both Connor Westhoven and Sid Hampton finished top ten in the 400m hurdles. Westhoven finished 6th with a 58.33 and Hampton earned 8th with a 58.41.

Taking the trip with the previously named men will be Kyeran Monroe, Christian Mosley, Cole Rappaport, and William Vickery.

The women Muleriders will consist of ten competitors in total for the Earl Milner Invitational starting off with the newest school-record holder, Kamrin Hooks. Hooks is the latest name in the SAU record books after she clocked in a 24.84 in the 200m dash.

Three new PR runners were in the 100m dash last weekend that consisted of Sa'Moriya Walker, Katelynn Hogg, and Amayia Taylor. Walker earned her PR of 12.27 while finishing 8th in the competition. Following her was Hogg and Taylor with Hogg setting her's at 12.43 and Taylor at 12.51. Lastly for the newest PR runners heading to the meet is Rozlyne Manor after she earned a personal time in the 400m hurdles with her new time of 1:04.82.

Following along with the women will be Devlin Rivera, Jill Robertson, Asiya Sabr, Aaliyah Thompson, and Issah Traylor.

The Muleriders are seeking to continue improving on their craft as the Great American Conference Meet is getting closer and closer, which is being held at Shawnee, Oklahoma in early May. As previously mentioned, the Little Rock Twilight will be broadcasted on ESPN+ starting at 4 p.m. The SFA Earl Milner Invitational will be held on Friday alone as SAU will only be competing in running events at the meet.