Jan. 22, 2008
ORLANDO, Fla. (www.ucfathletics.com) - The UCF track and field squad is gearing up to return to the track this weekend when it travels to Gainesville, Fla., to compete at the Stephen C. O'Connell Center. The meet, which has been traditionally called the Diet Pepsi Invitational, has been changed to the Tom Jones Memorial Classic.
The meet has been re-named in honor of former Florida women's coach Tom Jones, a 35-year veteran of the collegiate coaching ranks, who lost a courageous battle with cancer on March 21, 2007. He coached at Florida, Arizona State, Texas-El Paso and N.C. State, mentoring athletes to 335 All-America honors, two NCAA team titles and 12 team conference championships.
Jones, 62, oversaw the Florida women's program for 15 of its 35 seasons of existence. Florida is not the only school to have honored Jones' memory. Arizona State University named the men's 200-meter dash at the Sun Angel Classic in his memory as well.
Jones' family has asked that those who want to remember him send their contributions in his name to Shands Healthcare, 720 SW 2nd Ave., Suite 510, Gainesville, FL 32601 for liver cancer research.
Conference USA Teams in Action This Weekend
Friday, January 25, 2008
East Carolina at Christopher Newport (Newport News, Va.)
Houston at Arkansas Razorback Invitational (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Memphis at Arkansas State Invitational (Jonesboro, Ark.)
SMU at Arkansas Razorback Invitational (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Southern Miss at Arkansas Razorback Invitational (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Tulsa at Arkansas Razorback Invitational (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Saturday, January 26, 2008
East Carolina at Christopher Newport (Newport News, Va.)
Houston at Arkansas Razorback Invitational (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Memphis at Arkansas State (Jonesboro, Ark.)
SMU at Arkansas Razorback Invitational (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Southern Miss at Arkansas Razorback Invitational (Fayetteville, Ark.)
Tulsa at Arkansas Razorback Invitational (Fayetteville, Ark.)
UCF at Tom Jones Memorial Classic (Gainesville, Fla.)
UTEP at Texas Tech Invitational (Lubbock, Texas)