Missouri State University

SPRINGFIELD -- The opportunity for one final tune-up before the Missouri Valley Conference Indoor Championships has the track and field Bears in action at this weekend's Tyson Invitational hosted by the Arkansas Razorbacks.

The prestigious meet will run Friday, Feb. 11 and will conclude with Saturday action. The meet will include 14 of the top-25 nationally ranked teams in this week's USTFCCCA poll, including No. 1 Oregon, No. 3 LSU and No. 6 Arkansas.

Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Ronald Boyce said taking nearly a full squad to the final dress rehearsal will give them valuable experience and an expectation as to how the squad will perform at the MVC Championships, Feb. 26-27.

"The key for us this weekend is for the healthy competitiors to show us exactly where they are so we can make some decisions as to where we put them and try to be strategic for our upcoming, and very important, conference meet," Boyce said. "It will be important for us to get some true marks so we know where we stand."

A small group of Bears competed in last weekend's Fazoli's/Baymont Inn Invitational at Missouri Southern, with Ariel Butzine (Fr., Lake Villa, Ill.) placing second in the 800-meter run and multiple sprinters performing well in the 60-meter dash. For the majority of the Bears, it will be their first competition since the Indiana Relays, Jan. 28-29.

Friday's action takes off at 12 p.m., with Saturday's events slated to start at 11 a.m. Live results will be available by visiting the track and field schedule page on MissouriStateBears.com.