Off they go, screw the snow

It's a cold, 24-degree morning in Louisville, Kentucky, with the threat of a snow storm on the way by noon. Despite the unpleasant conditions outdoors, the warmth of speed and athletic competition will bring delight as the 30th Rod McCravy Invitational, hosted by the University of Kentucky, will occur throughout the afternoon into the evening.

This is a two-day meet, taking place today, Jan. 10 through tomorrow. Let's take a look at some of the athletes that will showcase their talent in this early season meet.

UCF's Asherah Collins will headline a long jump field that includes 42 participants. Collins returns as one of the top jumpers in the NCAA. The Lake City, Florida native qualified for the 2024 NCAA Outdoor Championships in both the long and triple jump events, earning Second-Team All-America honors in both competitions.

Louisville's Synclair Savage will also be in the mix of long jump competitors on the opening day of the Rod McCravy Invitational. Savage, is entering her first long jump competition of the year after earning First-Team All-America recognition during the 2023 outdoor season. She placed eighth two years ago at the NCAA outdoor meet. This is her second time being a First-Team All-American. Savage first gained the honor during the 2023 indoor season after placing seventh at the NCAA Championships.

The cover girl of our previous track and field entry, Alexis Glasco of Kentucky will return to the track in Louisville, where she opened her season, Dec. 11. Glasco ran a winning 60-meter hurdles time of 8.21 seconds at the Louisville Opener. As of this morning, she sits in a third-place tie in all of the NCAA with another hurdler that will be at the Rod McCravy Invitational, Marcia Sey of Howard. Sey, who previously competed at Ohio State, ran a winning time of 8.21 seconds at the HBCU & Ivy Challenge in Cambridge, Mass., Dec. 7. Both Glasco and Sey will run in separate heats on day one. They are expected to meet in either the semifinal and or final rounds, tomorrow. They are two of 35 competitors that will work for an early season victory.

There's also loads of talent in the 200 meters. Howard's Kailei Collins returns after earning an Honorable Mention All-America accolade as a 400-meter relay sprinter during her first year at the school. Collins, left Texas after the 2023 season for Howard and became the star sprinter of the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference. She won the 60 meters and 200 meters during indoor season before sweeping the 100 meters, 200 meters and 400-meter relay during outdoor season.

Her NCAA Championship qualifying 400-meter relay teammate Tiffani Rae Pittman will join her in the 200 meters field at the Rod McCray Invitational. Pittman has won eight conference championships as a sprinter during her career at Howard which began during the 2021-22 school year.

Alabama State's Jaqual Bush and Nauti'Ka Robinson will be in the field of 68 sprinters in the 200 meters. Those two are half of the reigning Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships winning 400-meter relay squad that also qualified for the east regional meet last year.

Cincinnati's Davenae Fagan will represent the Big 12, as she returns after a solid freshman season in 2024. Fagan qualified for the east regional meet in both the 200 meters and 400 meters last outdoor season.

Kentucky All-American sprinter Victoria Perrow returns for her third season as a Wildcat after spending her freshman campaign at Georgia. Perrow is working to get back to the NCAA Championships. She was an NCAA runner-up as part of Kentucky's 400-meter relay squad in 2023. Last year she returned to the east regional for the second straight year in the 100 meters.

Winners Only and Vocal Media will publish a recap of day one's action later today.