Razorbacks open indoor season
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas’ No. 8 men’s track & field team kicked the rust off on Friday night in the indoor season opener at Randal Tyson Track Center.
“We’re kicking the rust off. A lot of these kids haven’t been on a track racing since the outdoor championships some before that,” head coach Chris Bucknam said. “I told the team yesterday whatever expectations you have just tamper down a little bit and let’s get through the meet healthy so we can train healthy and get ready for Texas Tech coming up next weekend. The rest of our team should be at full strength by the end of January with our distance runners and everyone. It takes a good four weeks to get the kinks out and transition. We’ll take it one meet at a time, work on the things we need to work on and stay healthy.”
On the Track
• Jeremy Farr put down a 47.47 in the 400-meters which ranks in the top-10 nationally this season.
• Chase Pereti picked up the second title at the Arkansas Invitational for the Hogs, running a 1:54.21 in the 800-meters to outlast Matt Christoffer of Southwest Baptist.
• Lesley Mahlakoane earned a second-place finish in the 600m (1:18.99), leading a group that included Nick Hilson and James Milholen to take three of the top five spots.
• Tre’Bien Gilbert (7.99) led four Hogs along with Markus Ballengee (8.03), Carl Elliott III (8.08) and Tyler Brendel (8.32) in the 60-meter hurdles taking second through fifth.
• Matt Young paced the Razorbacks in the mile with a 4:09.66, good for second overall. Fellow sophomore Ryan Murphy crossed the line in 4:11.38 for fourth.
In the Field
• Laquan Nairn soared for the sixth-best triple jump in the country this season with his 15.83m (51-11.25) for the Hogs.
Arkansas hits the road next weekend with a trip to Texas Tech before returning to Randal Tyson Track Center for the Razorback Invitational Jan. 31-Feb. 1.
