RADFORD, Va. – The Highlander Track & Field program will host the 2011 Radford Invitational this weekend at Cupp Stadium Track, the first event held in Radford since the 2009 Big South Outdoor Championships and will be the first non-championship home meet since 2008.

An array of elite athletes from 13 schools and a number of club teams will be competing in the meet, including 49-year-old javelin thrower Ronald Bradstock, who is hoping to shatter the world record (62 meters) for his age group (has already thrown 71 meters).  He will be competing at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the throws area.

Among the schools challenging Radford will be No. 7 Virginia Tech, Tennessee, Carson Newman, East Tennessee State, Liberty, Longwood, Lynchburg College, Milligan College, Norfolk State, UNC Pembroke, Roanoke College, VMI, and Virginia Union.

LAST TIME OUT
Aimee Veatch (Hammer), Brett Olinger (400m hurdles) and the 4x400m relay team (Olinger, Sean Shelton, Raschad Kelso, Kaise White) claimed titles at the Big South Championships.  Six other events resulted in Highlanders on the podium - Nikki Roseberry (High Jump), Kelso (200m), White (400m), Olinger, White, Kelso, and Bryan Wallace (4x400m), Courtni Pannell (100m hurdles) and Britney Whittaker (800m).

REGIONAL RANKINGS (as of 4/26)
Roseberry - No. 6 in the high jump (1.75m)
Olinger – No. 7 in the 400m hurdles (52.33)
Hodge – No. 12 in the hammer throw (58.27m)
Domer – No. 12 in the javelin (63.80m)
Hovatter – No. 12 in the decathlon (5,990 points)
Kelso – No. 14 in the 200m (21.26)
Olinger, White, Kelso, Wallace – No. 19 in the 4x100m (41.30)
Olinger, Shelton, Kelso, White – No. 19 in the 4x400m (3:15.07)
Richards – No. 19 in the decathlon (5,759 points)
Veatch – No. 15 in the hammer throw (52.78)