The Tyson Invitational, a prestigious indoor track and field meet, is set to take place in Fayetteville, Arkansas, featuring top NCAA teams including the No. 1-ranked Kansas State Wildcats and the Florida Gators. The event, which holds World Athletics Silver status, will run over the weekend, providing a key tune-up before conference championships. Olympic gold medalist Noah Lyles is scheduled to compete in the men's 200 meters.
The Tyson Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas, draws elite collegiate and international athletes for a two-day competition. Sources indicate the meet begins on Friday, February 14, 2026, with events like the 60-meter hurdles preliminaries at 12 p.m., followed by the pole vault at 1 p.m., according to Kansas State coverage. Florida reports list the start as February 13 with 60-meter preliminaries at 1 p.m., highlighting a minor scheduling discrepancy between accounts.
Kansas State's men's team holds the No. 1 national ranking in the USTFCCCA Week Three poll with 138.77 points, ahead of Tennessee and Oregon. Their strength lies in field events, particularly the triple jump where the top four athletes average 16.31 meters, and the long jump led by junior Tah Chikomba, whose 8.09-meter leap ranks No. 2 in the NCAA. Chikomba was named Big 12 Men's Athlete of the Week on February 4. The women's team ranks No. 14. Competing for Kansas State in Silver-level field events are sophomore Uroy Ryan in men's long jump, junior Maud Zeffou-Poaty in women's long jump, senior Devin Loudermilk in men's high jump, and junior Aaron Antoine in men's triple jump.
The Florida Gators enter ranked No. 18 in men's and No. 19 in women's events per the NCAA Division I Indoor Track & Field National Rating Index. The meet serves as their final preparation before the SEC Indoor Championships on February 26-29. Last year at Tyson, Gators athletes set personal bests, including Imani Washington's 20.09-meter throw and Layla Haynes' 2:05.02 in the 800 meters. One Gator, Kelvin Cheruiyot, who recently broke a 34-year school record in the 3,000 meters with 7:47.45, will compete separately at the Husky Classic in Seattle.
Saturday's schedule includes field events starting at 10:30 a.m. with women's pole vault and track events at 11 a.m. with the men's 5,000 meters. The invitational's Silver status elevates its profile, offering collegians a chance to face global competition.
