HOUSTON - The McNeese State track and field teams will be competing March 22-23 at the 37th annual Victor Lopez Classic held at Rice University.   

The Victor Lopez Classic will be one of the largest track meets up to this point this outdoor season across the nation, and a good indicator for the Cowboys and Cowgirls as to where they stack up against some of the best athletes in the nation. 

Cowboys' sprinter Tyler Smith will look to improve on his impressive, early season 100-meter dash time of 10.33 seconds in the A section of the 100-meter dash this weekend.  This mark has the Cowboy senior ranked second in the Southland Conference and the nation. 

Hurdler Korey London will also be competing in the A section of the 110-meter hurdles.  The sophomore from Barbe High School has posted a time of 14.43 seconds, currently ranking him second in the Southland Conference.   

Distance runners Brian Flanagan and Niall Holt will be competing on Saturday night in the A section of the 1500-meter run.  Both Cowboys will be competing against many runners within the Southland Conference which will be a good early season indication of how they stack up in the 1500-meter race. 

On the women's side, thrower Alanna Arvie will start the Cowgirls weekend off on Friday with the hammer throw.  The Oberlin native has won her first two meets in the event and is looking to continue her streak this weekend.  The junior Cowgirl is currently ranked second in the Southland Conference in that event. 

Distance runner Alex Eykelbosch will be running her first 5000-meter race this outdoor season.  The senior Cowgirl won the gold medal in the event at the Southland Conference Indoor Championship Meet.   

Sprinter Aleyah Donald will be opening up her outdoor season this weekend by competing in the 100-meter dash.  The Leesville native placed second in the 60-meter dash at the Southland Conference Indoor meet.   

Cowgirl standouts Grace McKenzie and Heaven Terrell will be competing in the Long Jump Saturday morning.  Terrell is currently ranked third in the Southland Conference and has won her first two long jump competitions this outdoor season while McKenzie will be doing her first long jump competition of the outdoor season, looking to build on her fifth-place finish at the league indoor championship meet.   

With several Southland Conference schools entered in the meet, this weekend will give the Cowboys and Cowgirls a good look at how they rank within the league.