NCAA West prelims start Thursday for No. 5 Razorbacks

SACRAMENTO – The NCAA postseason continues Thursday for No. 5 Arkansas with the start of the NCAA West Preliminary rounds hosted by Sacramento State. With a national-leading 35 entries, the Razorbacks will aim to qualify for Austin as the field of 48 in each individual events are trimmed to 12 by Saturday’s second rounds.

Also on Saturday, the fields of 24 in the 4 x 100 and 4 x 400 relays will also be trimmed to 12 for the NCAA Championships that will be held in Austin from June 7-10.

“We have the largest contingent of any team in the nation,” noted Arkansas women’s head coach Lance Harter. “We even added one more with Nyah Hernandez got advanced in the 10,000m due to a medical scratch in the event.

“Right now, everybody is healthy and happy. They’re ready to answer the challenge trying to be selected to make the final 12 that get to advance to Austin.”

Live results will be available here: https://tinyurl.com/ymykyrjc. A live stream of the track events begins Thursday at 8 p.m. (CT) through ESPN+: https://tinyurl.com/uwan2nzf.

A total of 30 Razorbacks comprises the 35 entries in 14 of the 21 events that will be contested. Among that group, Arkansas has 13 entries who are seeded among the top 12 heading into the meet along with both relays.

“The idea that we’re able to hit in that many events feels pretty special,” stated Harter. “We’re super excited about trying to improve on our national ranking. This week, though, we don’t need to worry about national polls or anything. All we need to do is take care of the challenge at hand.”

Top seeds in the NCAA West include Britton Wilson, the current world leader in the 400m and 400m hurdles, as well as Ackera Nugent in the 100m hurdles. The Razorback 4 x 400m relay is seeded No. 2.

Despite a tighter schedule than when she successfully defended her SEC double victory in the 400m and 400m hurdles, Wilson is entered in both events this week. She has recorded the top three times in the world for 2023 in both events and broke her collegiate record in the 400m twice during the SEC meet.

“Britton and coach Chris Johnson sat down and made the decision that she would go ahead and double like she did in the SEC Championships,” said Harter. “The difference this time is going to be the concentration in time between those two events, specifically on Thursday and then again on Saturday.

“We’re talking about a very small window of recovery, but if there is anybody up to that challenge it’s Britton Wilson.”

Multiple high-level entries for Arkansas include eight in the 400m, with five seeded among the top 12; five in the pole vault, with three seeded among the top 13; along with four in the 5,000m.

“We’re going to be well represented in the 400m, pole vault, and 5,000m,” stated Harter. “So, our strengths continue to be our strengths. Now it’s a matter of don’t eliminate each other but try to help each other to make that final 12.

“The quality of competition this specific year in 2023 is just absolutely outstanding. The marks that it has taken just to get it into the competition in the NCAA West is substantially better than it’s ever been.”

NCAA West Preliminary Rounds | Arkansas Schedule (PT) with seed position

Thursday, May 25

Saturday, May 27