Razorback pair advance to Eugene from NCAA West

FAYETTEVILLE – The first day of NCAA West First Rounds competition had two Razorbacks earning a trip to Eugene for the NCAA Championships while Arkansas also had 14 Razorbacks register 16 entries for the quarterfinals in six events on Friday at John McDonnell Field.

In the 10,000m, the last track event of the evening, Ernest Cheruiyot clocked a time of 28:44.26 as runner-up to a 28:42.53 by New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel. Washington State’s Evans Kurui placed third in 28:45.60. Razorback James Sankei finished 18th in 29:21.30.

Cheruiyot will race in the 5,000m on Friday.

With two fouls in the long jump, Hughes delivered a leap of 26-2.25w (7.98) to place fourth and became the first Razorback to advance to Eugene from the NCAA West meet. Link Lindsey placed 16th with a mark of 24-7.25 (7.50).

Leading the long jump with an all-conditions collegiate best of 28-8.5w (8.75) was Tafadzwa Chikomba of Kansas State, who had a wind reading of +3.2 on his lone attempt. The wind-legal collegiate record of 28-8.25 (8.74) belongs to Erick Walder of Arkansas from 1994.

Jelani Watkins and Tevijon Williams both reached the quarterfinal stage in the 100m and 200m. Watkins led the 200m field in 20.45 and posted a 10.07 in the 100m, which was the best wind-legal time. Williams, runner-up to Watkins in the same heat of the 200m, had times of 20.60 and 10.17.

Letebele (9.989) was one of three sprinters to deliver a wind-aided time of 9.99 (+2.5 wind) along with USC’s Eddie Nketia (9.983) and Texas Tech’s John Sherman (9.988).

All five Razorbacks in the 200m moved on to the quarterfinal. The additional sprinters included Jamarion Stubbs (20.81), Dapriest Hogans (20.82), and Steven McElroy (20.85).

Rivaldo Marshall led the 800m field with a 1:46.92 while Tyrice Taylor won another heat in 1:47.80. Josh Rammage (1:48.86) finished fifth in the heat with Taylor while Owan Logorodi (1:48.60) placed sixth in the heat with Marshall.

In the 400m three Razorbacks reached the quarterfinals. Jordan Pierre (45.74) and TJ Tomlyanovich (45.83) each won a heat while Devyn Wright (46.17) advanced on time. Just missing out was Zander Cruzan (46.19).

Brian Masai eased through the 1,500m prelims with a 3:39.77 heat win that ranked second best overall to a 3:39.63 for BYU’s Carter Cutting.

The tandem of Abdoul Sy-Savane (13.44) and Jerome Campbell (13.55) finished 1-2 in the same heat of the 110m hurdles to auto qualify for the quarterfinal while Karamoko Sacko (13.73) advanced on time.

Advancing to Eugene | 1 entry, 1 athlete, 1 event

Advancing to Quarterfinals on Friday | 16 entries, 14 athletes, 6 events