CONWAY, Ark. – The Central Arkansas track and field teams open the 2026 season on Friday at the Arkansas Invitational in Fayetteville. The meet is set to begin at 12 p.m. with men's shot put, followed by women's pole vault and 60-meter prelims at 12:30. 
 
15 schools are set to compete, including: Arkansas, Arkansas Pine Bluff, Little Rock, Coffeyville Community College, Iowa, Louisiana Tech, North Texas, Oral Roberts, Pittsburg State, Southern Mississippi, SFA, Texas State, Tennessee, and UT Arlington. 
 
The Bears enter the 2026 campaign as the reigning ASUN champions after sweeping the indoor and outdoor titles on both the men's and women's sides in 2025. 
 
This season, Central Arkansas is returning firepower on each team. Jermeiah Boudreaux returns for his sophomore season after a slew of ASUN awards in 2025, including Indoor Championship MVP, Outdoor Most Outstanding Freshman Performer, and Outdoor Most Outstanding Track Performer. Jaden Schneeberger also returns after his indoor ASUN Most Outstanding Field Performer effort last season. On the women's side, Joia Perry is set for her junior season after winning the 2025 indoor and outdoor Most Outstanding Field Performer awards last season. 
 
Four-time ASUN champion head coach, Josey Weaver, also remains at the helm for the Bears, following a season where he was named ASUN Track and Field Coach of the Year for both indoor and outdoor, on top of winning a Raymond Bright award. 
 
Fans can follow along tomorrow with live results provided by Flash Results, or by streaming through SEC Network+.