No. 1 Razorbacks total 21 entries for NCAA Championships

FAYETTEVILLE – No. 1 Arkansas’ journey to Eugene for the NCAA Championships will include 18 Razorbacks who compiled 21 entries in 12 events during the NCAA West First Rounds hosted at John McDonnell Field.

Friday’s quarterfinals were loaded with Razorbacks and a majority advanced to the NCAA semifinals and finals that will be held at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, from June 10-13.

Jelani Watkins and Tevijon Williams each advanced in a sprint trio of the 100m, 200m, and 4 x 100m relay. Karabo Letebele and Dapriest Hogans added the 100m and 200m, respectively, to their 4 x 100m relay duties.

Watkins sped to a 10.03 (-0.1) section win with Williams runner-up in 10.16. The career beset for Williams ranks No. 11 on the UA all-time list. Letebele clocked 10.14 (+1.2) for third in the next section.

In the 200m, Watkins had the second best time at 20.16 (+0.1) while Williams produced another career best with a 20.33 that ranks No. 10 on the UA all-time list. Hogans advanced on time with a 20.59.

In the 4 x 100m relay Arkansas generated the top time of 38.56 to defeat Houston (38.86) and Cal State Fullerton (38.93) in the third section. The Razorback line-up included Letebele, Williams, Hogans, and Watkins.

The 110m hurdles became the third event with three Razorbacks advancing as Abdoul Sy-Savane, Jerome Campbell, and Karamoko Sacko moved on. Sy-Savane finished second in his section in a career best of 13.27 (-0.2) that ranks No. 3 on the UA all-time list.

In another heat Campbell (13.42) and Sacko (13.47) finished third and fourth.

The 400m and 800m had tandems advancing. The 400m will include Jordan Pierre and TJ Tomlyanovich while the 800m features Tyrice Taylor and Rivaldo Marshall, who produced a 1-2 finish at NCAA Indoor when Arkansas claimed the team title.

Pierre won his section of the 400m in 44.81 while Devyn Wright finished seventh in 46.09. TJ Tomlyanovich won section three in a career best of 45.11 that ranks No. 9 on the UA all-time list.

Closing out the night with the 4 x 400m relay, Arkansas won the final section in 3:01.25 over Texas (3:02.12) and Minnesota (3:04.25). Texas A&M was the overall leader with a 3:01.14 with the Razorbacks and Longhorns second and third best.

Arkansas ran a line-up of Tomlyanovich (46.10), Wright (45.57), Zander Cruzan (44.90), and Pierre (44.68). Pierre had the third fastest split on the night.

Marshall won the first section of the 800m in 1:45.10 and Taylor led the field with a 1:44.35 in section three. Taylor’s effort ranks him No. 8 on the all-time collegiate list while he has a better PR with his UA record of 1:43.74 from summer racing.

A comfortable 1,500m quarterfinal had Brian Masai winning his section in 3:44.42. Ben Shearer won his section of the 5,000m in 13:41.34 with Ernest Cheruiyot fourth in 13:42.00. Cheruiyot will also compete in the 10,000m in Eugene.

Scottie Vines advanced in the high jump, leading the field with a 7-2.5 (2.20) as he cleared four heights with no misses. Cooper Williams set a career best of 7-1.5 (2.17) in placing 14th, just missing being among the top 12 that moves on to Eugene.

Advancing to Eugene | 21 entries | 18 athletes | 12 events