The LSU men’s and women’s track and field teams will try to continue their recent strong performances at the Tyson Invitational in the Randall Tyson Track Complex in Fayetteville, Ark. The meet will serve as a viable preparation for the LSU teams because both the Southeastern Conference and NCAA championships will be held at the venue.The teams will face tough competition for the second consecutive week. The Tyson Invitational boasts 11 top-25 men’s teams and 10 top-25 women’s teams competing in the meet. The No. 4 Tigers will face six other top-10 teams, while the No. 3 Lady Tigers will compete against four other top-10 teams.The Tigers will once again count on the stellar contributions of junior All-American thrower Walter Henning. Henning was the recipient of the SEC Male Field Athlete of the Week the last two weeks. He broke his own record at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational last week by throwing the 35-pound weight 76 feet, 6 1/2 inches. The throw topped his previous personal record which he set the week before. Henning said he has more than enough motivation for this week’s meet.”I really do think I throw well there,” Henning said. “And I found out the NCAA champion [in the weight throw] from last year is there, so I’m a little more pumped up for that. Hopefully I’ll get some redemption.”Henning has become the poster boy of LSU track this season after launching an NCAA-best throw in each of his last two events, though that title usually belongs to sprinter and football star Trindon Holliday. Holliday has not competed yet this season in his last year of eligibility, and LSU coach Dennis Shaver said not to expect his coming-out party.”Trindon at this point of time has — rightfully so — tried to focus on preparing himself for the NFL combine,” Shaver said. “It’s been a lifelong dream of his, and as a track and field staff we’re certainly 100 percent supportive of whatever it is that he wants to do.”Even without Holliday competing, Shaver figures to have a competitive team thanks to the unexpected efforts of some athletes this season.Sophomore hurdler Barrett Nugent is returning to the venue that ended his indoor season last year. Nugent lost his balance when he hit the end of his hurdles and flew into the padded wall the finishers use to slow down. Nugent injured his neck, and the injury kept him out of competition for a month. But Nugent has bounced back in a big way this season and currently holds the No. 3 mark in the country for the 60-meter hurdles after he ran a personal best of 7.71 seconds last week.”He’s only a sophomore here, and he’s running very close to our school record in the high hurdles,” Shaver said. “I’m really happy to see him having worked harder this year than he worked last year and then get that kind of reward.”Junior Zedric Thomas has written his own bounce-back story this season. His indoor season ended prematurely last year with a knee injury. This season Thomas set new personal records in both the long jump [26 feet, 3 inches] and the triple jump [52 feet, 2 3/4 inches] to qualify him to compete in the NCAA championships in both events.”Thomas is a person that has always been a great athlete, but last year struggled through some injuries and surgery and still just kept trying and trying,” Shaver said. “It’s great to see him have the kind of success week in and week out.”Freshman sprinter Takeia Pinckney could also be poised for a strong performance at the Tyson Invitational. Pinckney was named the SEC Female Freshman of the Week after her new personal best time of 7.31 seconds in the 60-meter dash at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York last week.—-Contact Luke Johnson at [email protected]