Gilbert Boit advances to Eugene as runner-up in 10,000m

Shawn Price May 26, 2021

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Gilbert Boit advanced to Eugene in the 10,000m with a runner-up finish in the distance race on the first evening of the NCAA West Preliminary round held at E.B. Cushing Stadium. Boit becomes the third Razorback to earn a trip to Oregon for the NCAA Championships.

Boit used a final lap split of 59.76 seconds to move into second place as he posted a time of 29:10.36. Iowa State’s Wesley Kiptoo broke away from the field of 48 runners early and won the race in 28:50.11. BYU’s Conner Mantz finished third in 29:10.91.

Three other Arkansas runners in the race included Emmanuel Cheboson (30:05.65, 22^nd), Myles Richter (30:35.81, 36^th), and Matt Young (30:53.44, 39^th).

Boit will join Razorback decathletes Markus Ballengee and Daniel Spejcher in Eugene. They are part of the 24-man decathlon field that will compete in Hayward Field.

Prelims held on the first day of the NCAA West Preliminary also had six Arkansas athletes reaching Friday’s quarterfinal round.

In the 110m hurdles, three Razorbacks advanced. Phillip Lemonious claimed his heat in 13.58 (1.6 wind) to equal No. 5 on the UA all-time list, matching Chris Phillips mark from 1993. Carl Elliott, III, also won his heat with a wind-aided 13.55 (2.2 wind) while Tre’Bien Gilbert finished runner-up with a wind-aided 13.72 (3.6 wind).

Among the 24 advancing to the next round, Elliott and Lemonious ranked sixth and seventh while Gilbert was 14^th.

Rhayko Schwartz finished third in his heat of the 400m with a 46.62 to auto qualify for the quarterfinal while James Milholen claimed the final time qualifier with a 46.70 from lane two. Jeremy Farr posted a time of 46.90 to place 28^th overall.

A time qualifier in the 400m hurdles, Nick Hilson placed fourth in his heat with a 51.10 as he finished 18^th overall.

A pair of Razorbacks just missed advancing in the 100m on time. Racing in the same heat Jalen Brown (10.30w) and Kris Hari (10.31w) placed 23^rd and 24^th overall with the final time qualifier being 10.29w.

Etamar Bhastekar equaled his career best of 17-6 ½ (5.35) in the pole vault and had a very close third attempt at 17-8 ½ (5.40) in placing 19^th overall among the field of 48. Bhastekar’s performance equaled his No. 5 position on the UA all-time list.

In the long jump, John Baker (24-7w) and LaQuan Nairn (24-3 ½) placed 24^th and 27^th, while Ruben Banks (198-5) finished 28^th in the hammer.