MOBILE, Alabama – McNeese track and field will send a handful of student-athletes to compete at the South Alabama Invitational on Friday to open up the 2021 outdoor season.
 
All-Americans Grace McKenzie and Donavon Banks as well as NCAA East Prelim qualifiers Alanna Arvie and Kira Benkmann will headline a group of Cowboys and Cowgirls that will compete. Banks will be making a return to the javelin event after missing the 2019 season due to Tommy John surgery and 2020 because of the COVID shutdown.
 
McKenzie returns for her final season and will compete in the 100 and 200 meters and long jump as she prepares to improve on her record 2018 season in the heptathlon.
 
Arvie is coming off a Southland Conference gold medal performance in the weight throw in the 2020 indoor season in her last action. She'll throw the shot put, discus and hammer and will be joined by teammate Kira Benkmann in the hammer where she qualified for the NCAA East Prelims in 2018.
 
"Outdoor season is finally here," said head coach Brendon Gilroy. "This will mark the beginning of the final seasons for our super seniors – Grace McKenzie, Alanna Arvie and Donavon Banks. All of our athletes will be looking to shake off some early season rust and put up some marks for conference as well as other meets this season such as the prestigious Texas Relays."
 
McKenzie received notification earlier in the week that she was accepted to compete in the Texas Relays.
 
The full men's and women's squads will get into action March 19-20 at the ULL Ragin Cajun Invite.