Men’s T&F/XC Annual Award Banquet

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Razorback cross country and track & field program hosted its annual awards banquet Friday night at the Blessings Golf Club with several student-athletes receiving recognition through awards voted on by the coaches.

Arkansas finished second in the John McDonnell Program of the Year Rankings for the 2017-18 season. The award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year (spanning the cross country, indoor track & field, and outdoor track & field seasons) based on the institution’s finish at the NCAA Championships. The Razorbacks runner-up finish added to an NCAA-best sixth-straight year in the top-3 of those rankings.

During the 2017-18 year Arkansas had eight (8) individual SEC Championships and 20 first team All-Americans.

No team in the country has a more complete program than Arkansas!

  • Cross Country: Eight-straight SEC Titles, Top-5 finish at NCAA for the second year in a row
  • Indoor Track and Field: SEC Runner-Ups, 13th at NCAA Championships, seventh straight top-15 finish at NCAA Championships (1 of 3 teams: Arkansas, Florida, Texas A&M)
  • Outdoor Track and Field: Third at SEC Champs (Only school in top 3 all three seasons), Ninth-straight top-15 finish at NCAA Outdoor Championships – 1 of 4 teams (Arkansas, Texas A&M, LSU, Florida).

Below is a rundown of the years’ events, accolades, and stats.

2017-18 ARKANSAS MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD/CROSS COUNTRY YEAR IN REVIEW

Second-Place in John McDonnell Program of the Year Standings

  • Sixth-Straight Year in Top 3 – best in the NCAA
  • The only team in the NCAA with back to back years (2016-17 and 2017-18) in the top 3
  • 201 points contributed to Arkansas Director’s Cup total
  • Cross Country, 62.25 Indoor Track and Field, 63.75 Outdoor Track and Field)

2017 SEC Cross Country Champions

  • 8th Consecutive SEC Cross Country Title
  • 20th SEC Title in 10 years

SEC Cross Country/Track and Field Win-Loss Record over 10 years:

Arkansas: 20-10
Florida: 5-25
Alabama: 3-27
Texas A&M: 2-28
All others: 0-30

Fifth-Place at NCAA Cross Country Championships

  • 3rd consecutive top-ten finish at NCAA Cross Country Championship (Arkansas, Colorado, Oregon, Stanford only schools in that group)
  • 2nd consecutive top-five finish at NCAA Cross Country Championships
  • FloTrack ranked Arkansas second in the nation over the last three years as a “Cross Country Dynasty”
  • NCAA Cross Country National Championships Advancement for 6th straight year (9 out of the last 10 years)
  • One of 10 programs in the nation with a 6-year or longer streak at NCAA XC Championships (Arkansas, BYU, Colorado, Iona, Oklahoma St., Oregon, Stanford, Syracuse, Texas, Virginia)

SEC Indoor Track and Field Runner-Up

  • Individual SEC Championships in the 60m (K. Cotton), 3,000 meters (C. Griffith), and Distance Medley Relay (C. Griffith, J. Bruce, J. Winn, C. Pareti)
  • Kenzo Cotton’s win in the 60m was the program’s first-ever SEC 60m Championship
  • Cotton won the SEC Cliff Harper Trophy (High Point Scorer): 11th person in program history

13th at NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships

  • Scorers in 200m, 3000m, 4x400m, and Heptathlon
  • Qualified 10 entries into the NCAA Indoor Championships – 2nd most in the NCAA
  • 7th straight top 15 finish at NCAA Indoor Championship – 1 of 3 teams (Arkansas, Florida, Texas A&M)

Third at SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships

  • Individual SEC Championships in 400m Hurdles (K. Mowatt) and 3000m Steeplechase (K. Hosting)
  • The only team in the top 3 at all three SEC Championships during 2017-18 (Cross Country, Indoor, Outdoors)

12th at NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships

  • Qualified 37 entries (in 18 of 21 events) to NCAA Post-Season (West Prelims) Competition, the most of any men’s program in the country for the third-consecutive year
  • Qualified 10 entries into the NCAA Championships Finals, 5th most in the NCAA
  • 9th straight top 15 finish at NCAA Outdoor Championships – 1 of 4 teams (Arkansas, Texas A&M, LSU, Florida)

INDIVIDUAL AWARD WINNERS:

  • 2017-18 Academic All-American: Kenzo Cotton
  • SEC Indoor Cliff Harper Trophy (Top Individual Scorer): Kenzo Cotton
  • SEC Freshman Runner of the Year (Cross Country): Matt Young
  • SEC Co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year (Cross Country): Alex George
  • NCAA South Central Men’s Assistant Coach of the Year: Doug Case
  • NCAA South Central Regional Coach of the Year (XC): Chris Bucknam
  • SEC Coach of the Year (Cross Country): Chris Bucknam
  • USTFCCCA All-Academic Cross Country Team

Eight SEC Individual Champions:

  • Jack Bruce – DMR Indoors
  • Kenzo Cotton – 60m Indoors
  • Cameron Griffith – 3000m Indoors
  • Cameron Griffith – DMR Indoors
  • Kyle Hosting – 3000m Steeplechase Outdoors
  • Kemar Mowatt – 400m Hurdles Outdoors
  • Chase Pareti – DMR Indoors
  • John Winn – DMR Indoors

20 Frist-Team All-Americans:

  •  Jack Bruce – Cross Country
  • Kenzo Cotton – Indoor Track and Field (200-Meters)
  • Kenzo Cotton – Outdoor Track and Field (200-Meters
  • Kenzo Cotton – Outdoor Track and Field (4-x-100 Relay)
  • Kenzo Cotton – Outdoor Track and Field (4-x-400 Relay)
  • Roy Ejiakuekwu – Indoor Track and Field (4-x-400 Relay)
  • Roy Ejiakuekwu – Outdoor Track and Field (4-x-400 Relay)
  • Cameron Griffith – Indoor Track and Field (3000-Meters)
  • Cameron Griffith – Outdoor Track and Field (1500-Meters)
  • Kristoffer Hari – Outdoor Track and Field (4-x-100 Relay)
  • Kevin Harris – Outdoor Track and Field (4-x-100 Relay)
  • Obi Igbokwe – Indoor Track and Field (4-x-400 Relay)
  • Obi Igbokwe – Outdoor Track and Field (400-Meters)
  • Obi Igbokwe – Outdoor Track and Field (4-x-400 Relay)
  • Gabe Moore – Indoor Track and Field (Heptathlon)
  • Kemar Mowatt – Indoor Track and Field (4-x-400 Relay)
  • Kemar Mowatt – Outdoor Track and Field (400-Meter Hurdles)
  • Kemar Mowatt– Outdoor Track and Field (4-x-100 Relay)
  • Jamarco Stephen – Indoor Track and Field (4-x-400 Relay)
  • Hunter Woodhall – Outdoor Track and Field (4-x-400 Relay)

Eight Second-Team All-Americans:

  • Jack Bruce – Indoor Track and Field (5000 Meters)
  • Kenzo Cotton – Indoor Track and Field (60 Meters)
  • Kenzo Cotton – Outdoor Track and Field (100 Meters)
  • Obi Igbokwe – Indoor Track and Field (400 Meters)
  • Derek Jacobus – Outdoor Track and Field (Decathlon)
  • Gabe Moore – Outdoor Track and Field (Decathlon)
  • Laquan Nairn – Indoor Track and Field (Long Jump)
  • Harrison Schrage – Outdoor Track and Field (Long Jump)

10 First-Team All-SEC Honorees:

  •  Jack Bruce – Indoor Track and Field
  • Jack Bruce – Cross Country
  • Kenzo Cotton – Indoor Track and Field
  • Alex George – Cross Country
  • Cameron Griffith – Cross Country
  • Cameron Griffith – Indoor Track and Field
  • Kyle Hosting – Outdoor Track and Field
  • Kemar Mowatt – Outdoor Track and Field
  • Chase Pareti – Indoor Track and Field
  • John Winn – Indoor Track and Field

13 Second-Team All-SEC Honorees:

  • Jack Bruce – Indoor Track and Field
  • Kenzo Cotton – Outdoor Track and Field
  • Austen Dalquist – Cross Country
  • Roy Ejiakuekwu – Outdoor Track and Field
  • Cameron Griffith – Outdoor Track and Field
  • Kevin Harris – Outdoor Track and Field
  • Obi Igbokwe – Indoor Track and Field
  • Gabe Moore – Indoor Track and Field
  • Gabe Moore – Outdoor Track and Field
  • Kemar Mowatt – Indoor Track and Field
  • Rhayko Schwartz – Indoor Track and Field
  • Jamarco Stephen – Indoor Track and Field
  • Matt Young – Cross Country

Three SEC All-Freshman Team:

  • Matt Young – Cross Country
  • Matt Young – Outdoor Track and Field (5,000-Meters)
  • Matt Young – Outdoor Track and Field (10,000-Meters)

Five NCAA South Central Cross Country All-Region Team:

  • Jack Bruce
  • Alex George
  • Austen Dalquist
  • Matt Young
  • Andrew Ronoh

SEC SCHOLAR-ATHLETE OF THE YEAR                                                                                                
Alex George
Kenzo Cotton

CROSS COUNTYRY AWARD – JACK BRUCE
The Arkansas Cross Country Award is presented to the student-athlete who demonstrates outstanding performance during the cross country season.

INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD AWARDS – Kenzo Cotton & Cameron Griffith
The Arkansas Indoor Track and Field Award is presented to a student-athlete for outstanding performance during the indoor track and field season.

OUTDOOR TRACK AND FIELD AWARDS – Kemar Mowatt
The Arkansas Outdoor Track and Field Award is presented to a student-athlete for outstanding performance during the outdoor track and field season.

NEWCOMER OF THE YEAR AWARDS – Matt Young, Kris Hari, Hunter Woodhall
The Newcomer of the Year Award is presented to an athlete who demonstrates outstanding performance during their first season as a Razorback.

INSPIRATIONAL AWARD – Kyle Hosting
This award is presented to the track & field athlete whose athletic achievement and leadership provide inspiration to his teammates.

COACHES’ AWARD – Gabe Moore, Derek Jacobus
These awards are chosen by the coaches to recognize athletic achievement, dedication, and determination.

SENIOR RAZORBACK AWARD – Larry Donald
The Senior Razorback Award is given to a senior who exhibited exceptional leadership and dedication to the program, provided inspiration to his teammates, and excelled on the track over his career as a Razorback.

SENIOR AWARDS
Now, we take a moment to recognize last year’s seniors. This group contributed to a historic run of SEC Championships and NCAA finishes. Over their four years:

As a group…
They won four straight SEC titles in Cross Country;

Won two SEC titles in Indoor Track & Field;

And one SEC title in Outdoor Track & Field;

They won five total top-4 trophies at the NCAA indoor and outdoor track and field championships.

They have a total of 31 First Team All-America Awards among them.

JACK BRUCE – 4-time All-American, 2-time SEC Champion, NCAA Runner-Up in 5,000 meters, seventh in school history in the 5,000 outdoors and 5,000 indoors. 

TRAE CAREY – SEC Indoor Qualifier in 2014 and 2015. Runner-up at the Arkansas-Texas dual meet in 2015. Indoor SEC All-Freshman Team in 2014.

TRAVIUS CHAMBERS – SEC Finalist in the 400-hurdles in 2017, Advanced to the NCAA Championships in 2017 earning honorable mention All-America honors. USATF Championships qualifier in 2017 and 2018. Ninth in school history in the 400-meter hurdles.

KENZO COTTON – 16-time First-Team All-AmericanNCAA 4x100m Champion, SEC Champion in 60 Meters, 19-time SEC Finalist (60, 100, 200, 4-x-100, 4-x-400). Cotton is on the Arkansas school record list more times than anybody else In Razorback history:

  • School Record Holder in the 60m indoors
  • Second in school history in the 100
  • Third in school history in the 200 indoors
  • Sixth in school history in the 200
  • On the top-5 (and 8 of the top 10) 4-x-100 meter teams in school history

LARRY DONALD – NCAA Qualifier in the 110-hurdles in 2018 and the 400-hurdles in 2016, second-team All-American in 2016 in the 400-hurdles, an honorable mention All-American 2018 in the 110 hurdles, seven-time SEC Championship finalist in the 60-hurdles, 110-hurdles and 400-hurdles. Ninth in school history in the 400-meter hurdles and fifth in school history in the 60-meter hurdles.

ANDREW HENN – SEC Championship qualifier in 2015, where he finished in 17th place. Two meet wins in the javelin in 2015 at the Arkansas Spring Invitational and Twilight. Six top-3 finishes overall.

CHRISTIAN HEYMSFIELD – 2-time NCAA Elite 89 winner in 2015, 2015 SEC Scholar-Athlete of the Year, SEC Runner-Up in Cross Country

KYLE HOSTING – 2018 SEC Champion in the 3000 Steeplechase, SEC finalist in the mile indoors in 2018, Qualified to NCAA West Regional in 2018

KEMAR MOWATT – 8-Time All-American, 2-time SEC Champion in the 400m Hurdles, Placed fourth in the World in the 400-hurdles, 13-time SEC Finalist, School record holder in the 400m Hurdles, 8th in school history in the 60m hurdles, on four of the top-10 4-x-100m relays, and two of the top 10 4-x-400m relays in school history. 

RUBIN OWENS – NCAA West Regional qualifier all four years, Third in the Triple Jump at the SEC Outdoor Championships in 2017, fourth indoors in 2017, fifth indoors in 2018, scored in both the high jump and triple jump at 2018 SEC Championships.

 ALEX SPRINGER – Eighth in school history in the javelin, finished sixth in the javelin at the 2018 SEC Outdoor Championships, NCAA West Regional qualifier in 2018, Winner of two meets and placed top-3 in 8.

JAMARCO STEPHEN – 3-time All-American as a member of 4-x-400 and Distance Medley Relay Teams, Ran on seven relays in the finals of the SEC Championships, A member of three top-10 4-x-400 relays teams in Arkansas history outdoors and two of the top-10 indoors.

For more information on Arkansas track & field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.