NORFOLK, Va. – The Norfolk State University track and field programs and the Virginia Beach Sports Center will host the inaugural Kenneth Giles Norfolk State Invitational this Friday and Saturday.

Seventeen teams and dozens of post-graduate athletes are scheduled to compete at the new VBSC facility near the Virginia Beach oceanfront. Competition gets underway at 8 a.m. Friday with the beginning of the men's heptathlon events, followed by the women's pentathlon at 9 a.m. Running and field events begin at 2 p.m.

Saturday's schedule begins at 9 a.m. with the conclusion of the heptathlon. Running and field events start at noon.

A limited number of tickets, sold by event, will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the following link. Fans should click "view more events" on the date desired to locate the ticket options. State and CDC guidelines regarding seating capacity, social distancing and wearing of masks will be strictly followed.

This marks the Spartans' second time competing and first time hosting a meet at the new VBSC, which will also be the site of four NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships between 2023-26. NSU also competed at the Virginia Beach Invitational earlier this month.

At that meet, senior All-American Kiara Grant set a new facility record and tied her own school standard in the 60 meters, clocking a time of 7.20 seconds. She is reigning MEAC Track Athlete of the Week, while junior Arieana Parker, who broke her own school weight throw record at the same meet (57 feet, 5 inches), is reigning MEAC Field Athlete of the Week. Both are scheduled to compete this weekend. On the men's side, sophomore Anthony Franklin swept the 60 and 200-meter dash events, and will also compete this weekend.

Live video will not be available, but live results will be provided. For more information on the Kenneth Giles NSU Invitational, visit our meet central page (also linked at right).