Hogs Hunt for 84th Conference Title at SECs This Weekend

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Razorback track and field will be seeking conference title No. 84 when it takes to the track at the 2008 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Auburn, Ala. Events will begin Thursday, May 15 and conclude Sunday, May 18.

Fox Sports will televise a tape-delayed broadcast of the 2008 SEC Championships Sunday, May 25, 6-8 p.m. CST. Complete details of the event, including the schedule and live results, can be found at www.auburntigers.com.

Arkansas track and field is ranked No. 15 by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA), it was announced on Wednesday. The Razorbacks are one of eight SEC teams ranked in the top 25. Texas A&M is seated at the top of the USTFCCCA ranking while Florida State sits at No. 2 and Florida holds the third spot.

Arkansas has made a habit of topping the awards stand at league cross country and track and field championships. The Razorbacks have won a combined 83 conference crowns since 1974.

Since Arkansas joined the SEC in time for the 1991-92 season, the Hogs have won 45 of the 50 league championships in the three sports. The Razorbacks have captured all 17 cross country titles, 15 of 17 indoor crowns and 13 of 16 outdoor championships in that time span. Arkansas won 38 Southwest Conference titles prior to 1991. UA is the defending SEC cross country and indoor champion.

James Strang, Alain Bailey, Nkosinza Balumbu lead the SEC in the 10,000 meters, long jump and triple jump, respectively. Bailey is the 2008 SEC Indoor Champion in the long jump and Balumbu is a four-time SEC Champion.

In addition to leading the SEC in three events, Arkansas athletes also hold the second-best mark in the SEC in six events in J-Mee Samuels (100 meters, 200 meters), Peter Kosgei (3,000-meter steeplechase) James Strang (5,000 meters), Shawn Forrest (10,000 meters) and Daniel Quinn (long jump).

Chris Bilbrew, Lane Boyer, Michael Chinchar, Luke Laird, Spencer McCorkel and Duncan Phillips will be making their SEC Outdoor Championship debuts this weekend. All but Boyer and Laird competed in the 2008 SEC Indoor Championships this past winter.

For complete recaps and results of the 2008 SEC Outdoor Championships, visit www.hogwired.com.

Download: 5.14.08 SECs.pdf