BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Louisiana Tech men's and women's indoor track and field teams hit the road this Thursday, travelling to Birmingham, Alabama, to open the 2020 indoor season at the Blazer Invitational hosted by UAB at the Birmingham Crossplex this Friday, January 10.
 
Blazer Invitational Live Stats
 
"We're excited to open the season this Friday," head coach Gary Stanley remarked. "This is a very young team, and we'll have a great chance to get a good look at who will make our next trip to Vanderbilt. It's the season-opener, and it's a great opportunity to see where we are."
 
The two squads will take part in 31 combined events over the day-long event. Field events are scheduled to start at 9 a.m. with Tim Fitzgerald and Riley Finnegan set to compete in the men's shot put.
 
Then, at 10 a.m., both the men and women will compete in the long jump, with Raven Alexander and Leah Scott to jump on the women's side, and Denzel Harper and Colin Butler for the men. Also at 10 a.m., Anna Weeks will take part in the women's pole vault.
 
The field events continue at 11 a.m. with Alexis Jones competing in the women's shot put.
 
At 11:30 a.m., both teams will take part in the 60 meter preliminaries with a total of 6 LA Tech men and women set to compete. Taylor Shaw, Kyra Collins and Claudasha Watson will represent the women, while Xavier Bishop-Falu, Preston McGowan and Ahmed Young will race for the men.
 
Riley Killian will represent the women in the 1-mile run, while three men are set to compete in the event in William Harrell, John Barham and Austin Ballow.
 
Then, at 1 p.m., Kayla Watson, Jada Branch and Briana Brown will run in the women's 500-meter race, while Tajhe Jones, Cameron Farris and Christopher Robinson will compete on the men's side.
 
In the 60-meter hurdle preliminaries, Kayla Watson, Johannon Murray and Shaley Ford will race for the women's team, while Xavier Bishop-Falu, Tre Williams and Ahmed Young are set to run for the men, beginning at 2:20 p.m.
 
In the men's weight throw, Tim Fitzgerald and Maurice Moore will get going at 2:30 p.m., while the women's weight throw will feature Aliyah Ballot and Rhegan White later in the day at 5:00 p.m.
 
The field events continue at 3 p.m. in the triple jump featuring Murphy Bavinga and Javion Canna for the men, and Dominique Anderson and Leah Scott for the women.
 
Also at 3 p.m., the men's pole vault gets underway with Andrew Spellman and Logan LeBlanc followed by the women's high jump with Farrah Reeves and Sydney Anderson.
 
The bulk of the running events get going at 3:20 p.m. with the 1,000-meter run. Callie Ezell will represent Tech on the women's side, while Josiah Perez and Mason Youberg are set to run for the men.
 
Then at 4 p.m., both teams will run in the 300-meter dash, with Daria Stewart, Pleasant Harris and Ma'asa Gay running for the women, while Mason Melancon, Ed'Jim Beaver and Nolan Walker will race for the men.
 
At 5 p.m., Shaley Ford and Makayla Edwards will compete in the in the 600-meter race and Tre Williams will run in the men's side.
 
At 5:15, the LA Tech men's team will compete in the distance medley relay, with Austin Ballow, Seth Boullion, Mason Youberg and Conner Killian set to compete in the event.
 
30 minutes later, Cooper Krenkels will be the lone Bulldog running in the men's 3K race.
 
Then at 6:30, the 4x4 relays will conclude the action-packed day with each side fielding two teams for the race. Team one for the women features Jada Branch, Taylor Shaw, Kayla Watson and Ma'asa Gay, while team two consists of Pleasant Harris, Daria Stewart, Kyra Collins and Claudasha Watson.
 
The men's relay teams will feature Seth Boullion, Ed'Jim Beaver, Christopher Robinson and Tajhe Jones on team one with Mason Melancon, Preston McGowan Cameron Farris and Nolan Walker on team two.
 
The Bulldogs and Lady Techsters will compete against SEC opponents in Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State along with C-USA foes in UAB, FIU, Florida Atlantic, Middle Tennessee and Southern Miss among others.
 
For complete coverage of Louisiana Tech Track and Field, please follow @LATechTFXC on Twitter or visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at LATechSports.com.