Illinois’ track and field athletes will have a tough weekend, as a small group heads south to the highly competitive Razorback Invitational, while the rest of the team hosts the Illini invitational.

The Illini Invitational kicks off at 9 a.m. on Saturday at the University of Illinois Armory.

In Fayetteville, Ark., the Illini will face Arkansas, last season’s National Champion, and Baylor, the consistent national 4x400m relay champ, among other tough teams.

Women’s track opens season

2006 began successfully for the Illinois women’s track and field team, which collected five first-place prizes in its season-opening meet at the Iowa Invitational on Jan. 14.

Ashley Hanshaw, a sophomore pole vaulter, scored a career-high 3.8m for a first-place finish. Senior Nina Henson took the top place in the triple jump (12.11m) and finished second in the long jump (5.41m).

Illinois sophomore runner Carlene Robinson, freshman Omoye Ugiagbe and sophomore Briana Cunningham swept the 400m race.

Sophomore LaNeisha Waller finished first in the 60m hurdles, followed by fellow Illini sophomores Camile Robinson and Tiffany Nesfield.

The Illini next compete on Jan. 28 at the Carle/Health Alliance Classic.

Wrestling on the airwaves

Four of the Illinois wrestling team’s Big Ten dual meets will be broadcast on the radio and the Internet this season. Brian Molline will provide the play-by-play, and former Illini wrestlers will be on hand to serve as expert analysts for the broadcasts.

The meets can be heard locally on the radio on WDWS-AM 1400. Those outside the Champaign area will have an opportunity to listen in on the official Illini sports Web site, www.fightingillini.com.

The following meets will be broadcast:

– Purdue, Jan. 20 at 7 p.m.

– Indiana, Jan. 27 at 6 p.m.

– Michigan, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.

– Iowa, Feb. 10 at 7 p.m.

Locksley locks in SI award

When Illinois’ football coaching staff was overhauled a year ago, the emphasis was on bringing in talented recruiters. In at least one case, the program seems to have done that successfully.

Offensive coordinator Mike Locksley was recently honored by Sports Illustrated writer Stewart Mandel as one of the top-20 football recruiters in the nation.

This year Scout.com also named the first-year Illini coach as a top-25 recruiter.