National Coach of the Year honors for Lance Harter, Chris Johnson

NEW ORLEANS – National honors for the indoor track and field season, as announced by USTFCCCA, included Women’s Coach of the Year for Lance Harter and Assistant Coach of the Year for Chris Johnson.

In a season in which the Razorbacks swept men’s and women’s SEC and NCAA Indoor team titles, Arkansas became the first school to claim all four indoor coaching honors since assistant coach awards were added in 2008.

Arkansas men’s head coach Chris Bucknam earned Coach of the Year while Travis Geopfert was named men’s Assistant Coach of the Year.

This marks the fifth time Harter has received the USTFCCCA Indoor Women’s Coach of the Year accolade while it’s the third time Johnson has earned the Indoor Assistant Coach of the Year. Harter has also been Outdoor Coach of the Year three times and once in cross country while Johnson has been Outdoor Assistant Coach of the Year once.

In claiming a third NCAA Indoor championship over the past four that have been held, Arkansas won its fourth indoor team title and seventh overall in defeating Texas, 64-60, overturning pre-meet national rankings that had the Longhorns No. 1 with the Razorbacks No. 3.

Arkansas scored points in six events, reaching double digits in four – 400m (18), 60m hurdles (10), pole vault (10), and 4 x 400 relay (10). Additional points were produced with runner-up finishes in the mile and distance medley relay.

In three of the Razorback victories, collegiate records were established by Britton Wilson with a 49.48 in the 400m, Ackera Nugent with a 7.72 in the 60m hurdles, and a world best of 3:21.75 in the 4 x 400 relay. Wilson also broke the American record while Nugent bettered the Jamaican record. Amanda Fassold registered a victory in the pole vault.

Among world rankings for the 2023 indoor season, Arkansas had 10 marks rank among the world top 10. In addition to a world-leading 3:21.75 in the 4 x 400 relay, Nugent produced the leading 60m hurdle time of 7.72.

Wilson’s 49.48 in the 400m ranks No. 2 while her 1:25.18 collegiate record in the 600m ranks No. 4 on the 2023 world list. Rosey Effiong (50.54) and Amber Anning (50.68) rank No. 6 and No. 9 in the 400m.

Arkansas had three additional 4 x 400m relay efforts rank fourth (3:26.40), seventh (3:27.57), and 10th (3:28.43). The distance medley relay ranked third with its 10:49.14.

In addition to winning the NCAA Indoor championship with a four-point margin, the Razorbacks also had the leading number of first-team All-America honors with 14 accolades from 10 individuals. Following were Texas (12) and Florida (10).

Overall, Arkansas had the leading number of combined men’s and women’s first- and second-team All-America honors with 36. Following were Texas (29), Washington (26), Florida (25), and Stanford (20).

Arkansas Women | First-Team All-America | 10 athletes, 14 honors