Jan. 26, 2006

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ---- The Samford University track and field team heads to Lexington, Ky., on Friday for the Rod McCravy Memorial Track and Field Meet on Friday and Saturday, hosted at Nutter Field House by the University of Kentucky.

"I know the track athletes are anxious to compete," said Samford head coach Glenn McWaters. "They've been training all fall and they're looking forward to getting out there to see their first competition."

Friday's competition will feature field events, with the women's pole vault, men's high jump, men's and women's weight throw, and the men's and women's triple jump.

Samford's Cameron Cardwell and Tracy Walz compete in the pole vault on Friday. Cardwell is the school record holder in the event, vaulting 10'6'' in 2005. Freshman Asa Ackerson will make his Samford debut when he competes in the high jump Friday night.

School record holder and all-conference performer April Howell returns to compete in the triple jump on Friday night. Additionally, freshman Joshua Cutbirth will compete in the men's weight throw.

Samford will see face some difficult competition, as four teams that finished in the top 25 at last season's NCAA Indoor Championships will participate in the meet. The men's side will feature Virginia Tech (t-16), Tennessee (t-16) and Ole Miss (22), while the women's side will showcase Georgia Tech (21st). The Bulldogs will also see some familiar faces; with Ohio Valley Conference rival Eastern Kentucky competing in the event, along with in-state rival Alabama.

"This of course will give us a first look at where we are as far as our training and conditioning, and what we need to work on," McWaters said. "This meet will also give us a chance to see how we match up against some really good competition."

Friday's events are slated to begin at 5 p.m. The Rod McCravy Memorial continues on Saturday morning at 9:30 a.m. with the last event set to begin at 4:10 p.m. Live scoring will be available on www.ukathletics.com. Results from the meet will also be posted following the conclusion of the last event on www.samfordsports.com.