TUCSON, Ariz. – The University of Arizona track & field program is hosting the annual Tucson Elite Classic at Drachman Stadium on Thursday, May 18 and Saturday May 20. The meet will feature 20 Olympians, including former Wildcat
Georganne Moline.
On the throws side of things, some of the top athletes include Joe Kovacs, Tom Walsh, Ryan Whiting, Sultana Frizell and Gia Lewis-Smallwood.
The men's shot put competition will be loaded as Kovacs earned the Silver Medal in the 2016 Olympic Games and won the Gold Medal in the 2015 IAAF World Championships as well. Walsh was a Bronze Medalist in the shot put at the 2016 Olympics and a Gold Medalist in the 2016 IAAF World Indoor Championships in the shot put as well. Whiting earned the Gold Medal in the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships and also won the Gold Medal in the 2012 IAAF World Indoor Championships.
On the women's side, Frizell competed in the 2008 and 2012 Olympics in the hammer throw, where she finished in 16th and 13th, respectively. She also finished in fifth at the 2015 IAAF World Championships. Lewis-Smallwood took 11th place in the discus in the 2015 IAAF World Championships and finished in eighth in the 2012 Olympics.
All in all, there will be 16 Olympians competing in the throws competition this weekend.
On the track, the highlight of the day will be the 400-meter hurdles as four Olympians will be competing against one another. Moline, Dalilah Muhammad, Sparkle McKnight and Noelle Montcalm will be competing. Muhammad, who is the reigning Olympic Gold Medalist in the 400-meter hurdles will be making her season debut on Saturday. This race will feature three athletes who currently have top-30 times in the world, including Moline, who has the third-fastest time in the world in the 400-meter hurdles. Also making her return to Drachman Stadium will be former Wildcat
Nnenya Hailey.
As for the current Wildcats that will be competing at the Tucson Elite Classic,
Viktor Gardenkrans will be competing in the discus throw on Saturday and
Grayson Fleming will be competing in the hammer throw on Saturday as well.
Diana Gajda will also be running in the 400-meter dash as well as former Track Cat
Gia Trevisan. Gajda will be competing for Poland's U23 team later this year while Trevisan has the third-fastest Italian time.
THURSDAY MAY 18, 2017
EVENTS TIMES
4:00pm Women's Hammer
4:00pm Men's Discus
5:45pm Men's Hammer
5:45pm Women's Discus
7:30pm Women's Shot Put
7:30pm Women's Javelin
8:30pm Men's Shot Put
8:30pm Men's Javelin
SATURDAY MAY 20, 2017
EVENTS TIMES:
4:00pm Women's Hammer
4:00pm Men's Discus
5:45pm Men's Hammer
5:45pm Women's Discus
7:00pm Women's 100m Hurdles
7:10pm Women's 400m Dash
7:20pm Men's 400m Hurdles
7:30pm Women's 400m Hurdles
7:30pm Women's Shot Put
7:30pm Women's Javelin
8:30pm Men's Shot Put
8:30pm Men's Javelin
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