3 Razorbacks advance to Eugene on first day of NCAA West

Shawn Price May 22, 2024

FAYETTEVILLE – Action in the NCAA West First Round produced a trio of Razorbacks advancing to the NCAA Championships in Eugene. The crew included Wayne Pinnock in the long jump along with Patrick Kiprop and Kirami Yego in the 10,000m.

Qualifying to Friday’s quarterfinal races included nine entries in five events by eight Razorbacks.

Wayne Pinnock posted the second best mark in the long jump with a leap of 26-4.25 (8.03). USC’s Johnny Brackins produced a leading mark of 26-9 (8.15) as his career best bettered the facility record and the best mark ever in the NCAA West region.

Pinnock shared the leading mark in the NCAA West at 26-5 (8.05) from 2023 with Marquise Goodwin of Texas (2010). The facility record of 26-7 (8.10) was held by Missouri’s Ja’Mari Ward from 2019.

In the 10,000m semifinal, Kiprop and Yego finished third and sixth with times of 28:29.47 and 28:36.25 in advancing to Eugene. New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel led the field with a 28:26.91 with Oklahoma State’s Denis Kipngetich runner-uo in 28:27.68. Three OSU Cowboys advanced to Eugene while Northern Arizona matched Arkansas with a pair advancing.

Lance Lang advanced in two events, the 100m and 200m. He equaled the UA school record of 10.04 set by Jarrion Lawson in 2015 while finishing third in his heat and then cruised to a 20.20 heat victory that led the 200m field.

Joining Lang in the quarterfinal of the 200m were Tevijon Williams and Connor Washington, who both ran 20.72 in separate heats. Williams also raced in the 100m, clocking 10.47 for sixth in his heat.

Defending NCAA champion Phillip Lemonious ran 13.38 as runner-up in his prelim heat of the 110m hurdles. Elijah Morris finished second in the opening heat of the 110m hurdles with a 13.66 to auto qualify for the quarterfinals with Lemonious. Brevin Sims placed fith in 13.81 racing in the heat with Lemonious.

A career best of 45.27 secured a heat victory for TJ Tomlyanovich, who moved to No. 9 on the UA all-time list. Runner-up in the first 400m was James Benson II in 45.55. Steven McElroy posted a 46.26 for sixth in his heat of the 400m.

In the 800m, a time of 1:48.88 placed Riley Wells third in his heat to secure an automatic qualifier for the quarterfinal.

Qualifying to Eugene | NCAA Championships
10,000m | Patrick Kiprop, Kirami Yego
Long Jump | Wayne Pinnock