NCAA Entry Count Grows To 16 On Final Day
AUSTIN, Texas – The No. 7 Arkansas men’s track and field team wrapped up its weekend at the NCAA West Preliminary Round in Austin, qualifying 14 additional entries for the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
Inclusive if the decathlon, Arkansas will head to the national meet with 16 chances to score points towards a podium finish and potential national title.
Following the completion of the regional competition on Saturday evening, Arkansas departed Texas having advanced at least two Razorbacks in three different events including the 200, 400-meter hurdles and the long jump. Head coach Chris Bucknam sent the most Hogs through in the 200 as Kenzo Cotton, Roy Ejiakuekwu and Josh Washington took up three of the West region’s 12 NCAA entries in the event. Cotton and Washington both earned automatic qualifiers as top-three finishers in their respective heats while Ejiakuekwu picked up the final spot off his time of 20.52w.
“Making the 200 meters indoors was proof to me that my season had potential,” Washington said. “Making the 200 meters outdoors this year feels like redemption, as I didn’t make it to Eugene in the 200 last year. I’m happy to be consistent, and I pray that I will continue to move up the Razorback all-time list. As far as qualifying in the relay, I’m just happy to be able to experience the magic of Hayward field again with my relay members.”
Prior to the 200 quarterfinals Cotton, Ejiakuekwu and Washington along with 400-hurdle NCAA qualifier Kemar Mowatt teamed up to clock the fastest time of the day in the 4-x-100-meter relay. The Arkansas quartet ran a season’s best time of 38.77 out of heat two in lane seven.
Razorback senior Clive Pullen was the only Hog to make it through in the field, qualifying off a second attempt mark of 16.64m/54-7 1/4. The two-time NCAA indoor champion passed his final jump, finishing with second best mark of the West region, behind Southern California’s Eric Sloan (16.92m/55-06 1/4).
Arkansas capped the final day of competition advancing two-time cross country All-American Jack Bruce through in the 5,000 and team of Rhayko Schwartz, Jamarco Stephen, Mowatt and Obi Igbokwe through in the 4-x-400-meter relay.
The University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon will host the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships on June 7-10 for the fifth consecutive year. The men’s competition will be held on Wednesday, June 7 and Friday, June 9. A team champion will be crowned following completion of the events on Friday afternoon.
NCAA Qualifiers (16)
• 100 Meters: Kenzo Cotton
• 200 Meters: Kenzo Cotton, Roy Ejiakuekwu, Josh Washington
• 400 Meters: Obi Igbokwe
• 800 Meters: Carlton Orange
• 5,000 Meters: Jack Bruce
• 400 Meter Hurdles: Travius Chambers, Kemar Mowatt
• 4-x-100 Meter Relay: Ejiakuekwu, Mowatt, Washington, Cotton
• 4-x-400 Meter Relay: Schwartz, Stephen, Mowatt, Igbokwe
• Long Jump: Harrison Schrage, Andreas Trajkovski
• Triple Jump: Clive Pullen
• Decathlon: Derek Jacobus, Gabe Moore
NCAA West Day Two Results
200 Meters Quarterfinals
6. Kenzo Cotton – 20.31w NCAA Q
8. Josh Washington – 20.38w NCAA Q
12. Roy Ejiakuekwu – 20.55w NCAA Q
22. Kevin Harris – 21.05w
5,000 Meters
Jack Bruce
Alex George
Cameron Griffith
Austen Dalquist
4-x-100 Meter Relay
1. Ejiakuekwu, Mowatt, Washington, Cotton – 38.77 NCAA Q
4-x-400 Meter Relay
Stephen, Schwartz, Mowatt, Igbokwe
High Jump
26. Rubin Owens – 2.10m/6-10 3/4
27. Brendon Rivera – 2.10m/6-10 3/4
— Ken LeGassey
Triple Jump
2. Clive Pullen – 16.64m/54-7 1/4 NCAA Q
23. Rubin Owens – 15.47m/50-9 1/4
For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.
