Arkansas will host its second outdoor home meet of the season with the John McDonnell Invitational on Friday, April 24, at John McDonnell Field. The event will include a recognition for retired men’s head coach Chris Bucknam at 2:15 p.m. on the track and a special announcement from Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Hunter Yurachek.
The meet is significant as it brings together athletes from 31 schools, including Central Arkansas, Central Missouri, Coffeyville Community College, Houston Christian, Illinois State, Indian Hills Community College, Kansas, Lamar, Missouri Southern Missouri State, Northwest Arkansas Community College, Oklahoma Baptist, Oklahoma Christian, Oklahoma State, Oral Roberts University, Pittsburg State University, Southeast Missouri State University, South Dakota State University and Tulsa.
After missing out on racing in the Invitational 800 meters at the Mt. SAC Relays due to an incident involving a collision with a photographer during the race’s first lap—where both Tyrice Taylor and Rivaldo Marshall were competing—the Razorbacks plan to feature this event for Taylor and Marshall at their home meet. “We had a wreck in the 800m at Mt. SAC so we still have to run a good 800m and we’re going to try to do that this week at the John McDonnell meet,” said Arkansas men’s head coach Doug Case. “We’re going to set up a good 800m for Tyrice and Rivaldo. Hopefully they stay on their feet this time.”
Earlier in the season during the Arkansas Spring Invitational two weeks ago Taylor and Marshall ran up to 600 meters of an attempted full race but did not complete it as planned. Indoors this year both athletes combined for a one-two finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships which scored eighteen team points toward what became a national team title for Arkansas.
Taylor currently holds the University of Arkansas outdoor record with his time of 1:43.74 set in 2025 while Marshall’s best outdoor mark of 1:45.59 ranks him fourth all-time for UA; he also holds UA’s indoor record (1:45.62), with Taylor ranking third indoors (1:46.00). Other Razorbacks entered in Friday’s Invitational 800 meters are Owan Logorodi and Josh Rammage; Ben Shearer and Nick Busienei are scheduled for competition in a three-thousand-meter race following relay events.
Looking ahead to Friday’s invitational events—streamed live via SEC Network Plus—coaches hope their top middle-distance runners can complete an uninterrupted performance after recent setbacks.
