SPRINGFIELD – With two meets left in the regular outdoor season Missouri State track and field team will head to Columbia, Mo. for the Tom Botts Invitational this weekend (April 19-20) hosted at the Audrey J. Walton Stadium. The event will begin with the hammer throw schedule to start after the men's even at 3:30 p.m., while Saturday will start at noon with the shot put.
 

Tom Botts Invitational
Dates	Fri., April 19 - Sat., April 20
Location	Columbia, Mo.
Site	Audrey J. Walton Stadium
Fri., April 19 - Sat., April 20	3:30 p.m. (Fri) | 12 p.m. (Sat.)
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Keeping Track of the Bears

• The Bears will travel to Columbia, Mo. for the Tom Botts Invitational for the fourth straight season, bringing 29 athletes competing in 14 events.
• Last year at the Tom Botts Invitational, Jamilah James (triple jump), Rochelle Etienne (javelin) and Sidne' Williamson (long jump) all took home event titles, while the Bears 4x100-meter relay also took the top spot. Etienne's javelin throw ranked in the top-five all time in school history.   
• Missouri State currently holds 16 top-eight marks in the Missouri Valley Conference in 13 different events.
• Namibia Clavier and Jamilah James hold the top spot in the MVC in their respective events. Clavier marked a season best 55.12 last weekend at the John McDonnell Invitational also ranks 58th on the NCAA qualifying list. James' triple jump mark of 12.46m two weeks ago at the Mizzou Spring Open sits 34th in the West region.
• Last weekend at the John McDonnell Invitational was highlighted by event titles and career best and was witness to first place finishes from Olivia Ott and James.
• A new era in Bears track and field has begun, with interim head coach Jordan Fife taking the reins, along with assistant coaches Carmelita Jeter and Jake Brydson.
• Fife came to MSU in 2014 and has been the Bears head cross country coach for the past five seasons, while also serving as an assistant track and field coach.