Chris Bucknam inks NLIs for 2009-10

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Razorback men’s track and field coach Chris Bucknam has announced two student-athlete additions for the 2009-10 academic year and season.

Drew Butler of The Woodlands, Texas and The Woodlands High School holds bests of 1:52.67 in the 800 meters, 4:09.62 in the mile and 9:01.20 in the 3,200 meters. He clocked his best mile time last weekend at the Boston Indoor Games. At the 2008 Texas State Championships, he was the state runner-up at 800 meters with a time of 1:53.02. He was the Region II 5A Champion at 800 meters with times of 1:55.39 (prelims) and 1:52.67 (finals). He also won a district 800-meter title and finished fifth in the 1,600 meters at the district championships in 2008.

At the 2008 Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival, he earned a runner-up finish with a 5K time of 15:20.17. At the 2007 Chile Pepper, he finished ninth with a 15:59. He holds a cross country 5K best of 15:17.90, clocked at the 2008 Texas State Cross Country Championships where he finished sixth.

While competing for The Woodlands, Butler was a member of three state champion cross country teams, two Nike Team Nationals championship teams, one Nike Cross Nationals championship teams and ran a leg on the 2008 Nike Outdoor Nationals winning 4xMile relay.

Omar Abdi of Charlestown, Ma. and Charlestown High School holds bests of 2:27.80 in the 1,000 meters, 3:54.21 in the 1,500 meters and 4:13.83 in the mile outdoors. His 1,000-meter time ranks fourth nationally and his best in the 1,500 meters ranked fourth nationally in 2008.

Abdi clocked his best 1,000-meter time (2:27.80) at the MSTCA Elite to win the event. His time is a meet record, currently ranks No. 4 nationally and was No. 2 at the time He also ran a leg of the 4×400-meter relay that won the event with a time of 3:28.85.

He earned a runner-up finish at the 2008 Massachusetts State Cross Country Championships with a 5K time of 16:05.4. He has a cross country 5K best of 15:49 clocked at the 2008 Manchester invitational Nike Classic.

The Razorbacks will host the 2009 Tyson Invitational, Fri.-Sat., Feb 13-14. For more information on Arkansas track and field, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.