No. 7 Razorbacks finish runner-up at SEC Championships

COLUMBIA, Missouri – No. 7 Arkansas finished as the runner-up in team scoring at the SEC Cross Country Championships on Friday morning at the Gans Creek Course, producing 76 points as the Razorbacks recorded its fourth SEC second-place finish in cross country.

In search of a 30th SEC Cross Country Championship, Arkansas placed behind Alabama’s tally of 37 points while No. 9 Florida placed third with 82 points. They were followed by Missouri (145), No. 18 Tennessee (148), Ole Miss (187), Kentucky (199), and Texas A&M (215).

While Alabama defended its team title, Florida’s Kelvin Cheruiyot defended his individual title with a winning time of 22:03.1 over the 8,000m course. Alabama’s top five finished among the top 15 positions. They were led by a 2-3-4 finish from Dismus Lokira (22:09.0), Rogers Minatum (22:11.5), and Dennis Kipruto (22:16.3).

Nick Busienei led the Razorbacks in placing fifth with a time of 22:25.3 and he was the second best freshman in the field behind Minatum. Ernest Cheruiyot, who led Arkansas in two previous meets this season, finished fifth in 22:31.6.

Racing for the first time this fall, Brian Masai posted a time of 22:48.6 to place 16th. James Sankei followed in 21st with a clocking of 23:01.6. Allen Bonnesen rounded out the team score for Arkansas in placing 27th with a time of 23:15.1.

The Razorbacks were in second place throughout the race, save for the 7k split when they were in third place behind Florida by two points (81-83).

Trey Caldwell finished sixth among the Arkansas squad placing 36th overall (23:34.1) while Trenton Sandler was seventh for the Razorbacks in placing 40th (23:40.5). Also racing were Jackson Free (51st, 24:03.7), Gavin Genisio (55th, 24:10.5), and Eli Seavey (86th, 25:15.3) among a field of 103 finishers.

The Razorbacks compete over a 10k distance next at the NCAA South Central Region meet on Friday, November 13, in College Station, Texas.