Romaine Beckford, Wayne Pinnock enhance position on Bowerman watch list

FAYETTEVILLE – Razorbacks Romaine Beckford and Wayne Pinnock enhanced their position on the Bowerman watch list with a pair of national championship titles at the recent NCAA Indoor meet held in Boston.

Pinnock improved his world-leading distance in the long jump to 27-6.75 (8.40) in claiming a third national title in the event. Pinnock previously swept the 2022 NCAA indoor and outdoor long jump titles as a freshman.

Beckford equaled his career best for the second time this season, defending his NCAA Indoor title with a clearance of 7-5.25 (2.27) that remains the collegiate leader for the indoor season.

The pair of Arkansas jumpers are among three athletes from the SEC on the current men’s watch list for the 2024 Bowerman, joining Georgia sprinter Christopher Morales Williams.

Also on this version of the watch list are Mykolas Alekna (California), Graham Blanks (Harvard), Johnny Brackins (USC), Kenneth Ikeji (Harvard), Terrance Jones (Texas Tech), Leo Neugebauer (Texas), and Nico Young (Northern Arizona).

Pinnock, who was also the 2023 outdoor world leader with a leap of 28-0.25 (8.54), equaled the Jamaican indoor national record with his winning leap at NCAA Indoor, matching the effort of James Beckford (1996) and Arkansas teammate Carey McLeod (2023).

On the collegiate indoor all-time list, Pinnock and McLeod share the No. 5 position just behind Razorback school record holder Erick Walder’s mark of 27-8 (8.43). Pinnock has also produced a leading five marks among the top 25 collegiate performances, followed by three for Walder.

On the world indoor all-time list the trio of Jamaicans share the No. 20 position.

Pinnock produced four marks over 27 feet at the 2024 NCAA Indoor and was the lone jumper to surpass that distance as he bettered the facility record of 26-11 (8.20) set by McLeod earlier this season. His series included jumps of 27-0 (8.23), 27-5.25 (8.36), 27-2.5 (8.29), and 27-6.75 (8.40) before registering a pair of fouls on his last two attempts.

Florida State’s Jeremiah Davis (26-11|8.20) and Florida’s Malcolm Clemons (26-7.25|8.11) finished second and third behind Pinnock with USATF Indoor champion Johnny Brackins of USC (26-3.5|8.01) placing fourth.

In claiming a third consecutive national championship in the high jump – 2023 NCAA Indoor, 2023 NCAA Outdoor, and 2024 NCAA Indoor – Beckford completed a second consecutive undefeated indoor campaign. He won five meets this season after claiming six victories during the 2023 indoor season.

Beckford also established a facility record at the Track at New Balance, bettering the previous mark of 7-5 (2.26) set by India’s Tejaswin Shankar in 2023.

A third attempt clearance at 7-5.25 (2.27) was needed by Beckford to secure the victory. Caleb Snowden of Arkansas-Pine Bluff missed his three attempts at that height and finished runner-up with a 7-4.25 (2.24) career best height.

On the Jamaican indoor all-time list, Beckford ranks No. 3 behind a 7-6.5 (2.30) by Germaine Mason from 2003 and a 7-5.75 (2.28) by Christoffe Bryan from 2015.