No. 4 Arkansas has nation-leading 35 entries for NCAA West First Round

FAYETTEVILLE – No. 4 Arkansas will have a nation-leading 35 entries for the NCAA West First Round that takes place next Wednesday and Friday at Texas A&M. A total of 29 Razorbacks will be involved in 15 events.

Arkansas’ total entry number leads over BYU (29), Tennessee (28), Texas Tech (28), and Texas A&M (25). This is the sixth time since 2012 for the Razorbacks to have the most NCAA entries and it’s the second time in the past three seasons.

“We’re pleased with our qualifiers and hats off to our staff for the hard work they’ve done,” said Arkansas men’s head coach Chris Bucknam. “Thirty-five entries involve a lot of people going to the first round.

“Now we have to recalibrate after winning the SEC Championship and move into a different mode. The SEC Championships is such a team event for us and the kids were excited to win in a tough league. Now we need to really focus on the importance of the first and second rounds next week in College Station.”

Previous entry numbers for the Razorbacks include a record 44 in 2023 along with 41 in 2016 and 38 in 2012. Those are three of the top four entries ever produced in the current format.

The top 12 in each event at the NCAA West meet will advance to Eugene for the NCAA Championships. Marcus Weaver has already qualified to compete at Hayward Field in the decathlon with his 7,940 winning tally at the SEC Championships, which ranks sixth among collegians this season.

This marks the 15th consecutive year for Arkansas to be represented in the NCAA decathlon. The next best current tally is five for Iowa, while Oregon’s run of five ended this season.

Arkansas will have six entrants in the 400m and five in the long jump at the NCAA West First Round. A trio of Razorbacks qualified in five events – 100m, 200m, 1,500m, 110m hurdles, and high jump.

In qualifying both the 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relays, Arkansas is the lone school to qualify both relays to the NCAA West every year since 2010. Florida and LSU have achieved the feat in the NCAA East.

The Razorbacks are the top seed in the 4 x 400m relay with a season best of 3:01.82, their winning time at the Mt. SAC Relays. In the 4 x 100m relay, Arkansas is seeded third with a 38.60.

Jordan Anthony is the top seed in the 200m with a 19.93 and his collegiate-leading 9.95 is the second seed in the 100m to a wind-aided 9.92 for USC’s Max Thomas. Razorback Connor Washington is the fourth seed in the 200m with a 20.32 and 11th in the 100m with a 10.14.

In the 800m, the Arkansas tandem of Rivaldo Marshall (1:45.59) and Tyrice Taylor (1:45.81) are seeded third and fifth. Reuben Reina is seeded fourth in the 1,500m with a 3:36.48 while Ben Shearer is seventh in the 5,000m at 13:24.74.

Other top 12 seeds heading into the NCAA West include Jaden Smith, ninth in the 400m (45.44); Uroy Ryan, 10th in the long jump (7.84); and Timothy Chesondin, 11th in the 10,000m (27:55.10).

Arkansas | 35 Entries | 29 Athletes | 15 Events