RUSTON – Louisiana Tech will host the annual Jim Mize Invitational at the Jim Mize Track and Field Complex on Saturday. Field events begin at 8 a.m., with senior recognition at 11:30 a.m. and the running events at noon.
 
MEET INFORMATION
Meet: Jim Mize Invitational
Host: LA Tech
Date:  Saturday, April 9
Time:  Field: 8 a.m. CT | Running: Noon CT
Location: Jim Mize Track and Field Complex (Ruston, La.)
Results: Live Results
Competing Teams: Arkansas State, Centenary, Grambling, Hinds CC, Jacksonville College, LA Tech, Meridian CC, UNO, Oklahoma Baptist, Our Lady of the Lake, Southeastern, Southern, St. Edward's, Texas College, ULM, UNT-Dallas and William Carey.
 
ABOUT LA TECH
With half the outdoor season finished, Louisiana Tech is set to make a move for the Conference USA Outdoor Championship and NCAA Regional.
 
Tyhra Charles was named Conference USA Female Freshman of the Week after running a 23.72 in the 200m. Charles came from behind to win her heat and nearly held on to win the event, finishing half a second behind first in sixth. She currently ranks sixth in CUSA and the top freshman in the event.
 
The men's 200m squad is ranked 15th in the country after Valentino Rudolph and Tim Rummelhagen set season-best marks at the Arkansas Spring Invitational. Rudolph ran a 20.87, and Rummelhagen had a 21.14. Abdulraof Rashid has a season best of 20.86 and Sabastian Bradley-Reed had a 21.00, both at the Clyde Hart Classic. Rashid is looking to make a second consecutive regional appearance.
 
On the women's side, the 400m group ranks 13th in the nation. Nia Wiley set a personal best of 54.85 at Arkansas to improve the squad's overall time. Osaretin Joy Usenbor ran a 53.00 and Jamara Patterson had a 53.23 at the Pepsi Florida Relays, while Jenaia Williams had a 55.79 at the Clyde Hart Classic.
 
Oscar Smith will look to make the regional in the 110m hurdles for the third time in his career. The 60m hurdles record holder ranks 22nd in the country and ninth in the east region with a time of 13.67 at the Arkansas Spring Invitational. That time ranks seventh all-time in LA Tech history.

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