Massive Mark Earns Pullen World Lead
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 5 Arkansas men’s track and field team closed the weekend just as strong as they opened it, placing first in the 1,600-meter relay and triple jump at the Tyson Invitational.
In the field, defending NCAA indoor triple jump champion Clive Pullen stole the show, thundering down the runway to a world-leading mark and PR of 17.19m/56-4 3/4. Throughout the event Pullen showcased a consistent series, marking no lower than 53 feet in all five of his fair attempts. With his legs warm from the first three jumps, Pullen put his speed and power on full display, jumping out to 55 feet on his first two marks in the finals before breaking through to his final 56-foot mark.
Pullen’s performance elevated the Kingston, Jamaica, native up to No. 3 in Razorback history and earned him a place in the collegiate record books as the 10th all-time best performer in NCAA history.
“It’s always good to compete at home, having the fans come out, I know they have my back 100 percent,” Pullen said. “It’s my job to come out and execute and it’s coach’s [Travis Geopfert] job to work behind the scenes and do the planning … so full credit to coach Travis. He knows what he’s doing.”
On the track Arkansas’ quartet of Kemar Mowatt, Obi Igbokwe, Eric Janise and Jamarco Stephen combined to post a season-best time of 3 minutes, 4.88 seconds, good for second-best in the country this season. The time also earned the squad a place on Arkansas’ career list as the fourth-best performance in school history.
Elsewhere in the field, senior Ken LeGassey picked up his first 7-foot clearance in the high jump, placing seventh in the invitational section with 2.16m/7-1.
Up Next
• Arkansas Qualifier – Friday, Feb. 17, Fayetteville, Ark.
• UCS Invitational – Saturday, Feb. 18, Winston Salem, N.C.
Postseason competition for the Razorbacks will begin with the Southeastern Conference Championships in Nashville on Feb. 24-25. Arkansas will close out the 2017 indoor season at the NCAA Indoor Championship in College Station, Texas, March 10-11.
Tyson Invitational (Day 2)
February 11, 2017
Randal Tyson Track Center (Fayetteville, Ark.)
200 Meters Invitational
5. Josh Washington – 20.81
6. Kenzo Cotton – 20.87
200 Meters
2. Kevin Harris – 21.01
6. Kemar Mowatt – 21.07
4-x-400 Meters Relay Invitational
1. Mowatt, Igbokwe, Janise, Stephen -3:04.88
4-x-400 Meters Relay
4. Washington, Orange, Winn, Schwartz – 3:08.85
High Jump Invitational
7. Ken LeGassey – 2.16m/7-1
High Jump
9. Brendon Rivera – 2.04m/6-8 1/4
Triple Jump Invitational
1. Clive Pullen – 17.19m/56-4 3/4
Triple Jump
8. Rubin Owens – 15.22m/49-11 1/4
Shot Put
11. Sam Kempka – 16.90m/55-5 1/2
12. Jeff Rogers – 16.89m/55-5
17. Erich Sullins – 14.98m/49-1 3/4
21. Gabe Moore – 14.02m/46-0
22. Brad Culp – 13.48m/44-2 3/4
23. Lane Austell – 11.73m/38-6
For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.
