Cross Country (M)

Seven All-Region Honorees Pace Hogs South Central Title

Jeff Smith
Jeff Smith November 9, 2018

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – No. 19 Arkansas men’s cross country team continued its drive to the NCAA meet, capturing its sixth-consecutive NCAA South Central Region title Friday morning in College Station.

“I thought it was a nice rebound coming off the SEC meet two weeks ago,” said head coach Chris Bucknam.

To have all seven runners in the top-25 in the conditions we had today was an incredible effort from the whole group.”

The victory, which was Arkansas’ 38th at the regional meet in program history, earned the Razorbacks automatic qualification into next weekend’s 2018 NCAA Cross Country Championships in Madison, Wis. Arkansas captured the crown by a 17-point margin ahead of former Southwestern Conference foe Texas.

“We are thrilled to come away with another regional championship and advance to the national championship,” Bucknam continued.

This is the 47th time that Arkansas’ men have qualified for NCAA Championships in program history (seventh-year in a row).

Arkansas was the only team to have all five scoring runners finish inside the top-20 led by junior Gilbert Boit who was the highest Razorback finisher in fifth-place.

The other four scorers, Cameron Griffith, Ryan Murphy, Matt Young and Ethan Moehn, ran with the front pack – that was just behind the leading trio of Boit, UT-Rio Grande’s Abraham Chirchir and Tulane’s Emmanuel Rotich – consistently throughout the duration of the 10K race before placing 11th, 12th, 16th, and 17th, respectively.

Arkansas’ top-seven all earned South Central All-Region honors for the first time in program history by finishing among the top-25 best runners in a field 168 competitors. Previous teams to have its top seven earn All-Region honors include Syracuse (’17, ’15), Colorado (’15), Wisconsin (’14), Texas (’13), Florida State (’12), and Oklahoma (’11).

“We have a quick turnaround this week, but our team is well prepared for it and will be ready to go next weekend in Madison,” Bucknam finished.

The Razorbacks will face their final postseason challenge next weekend when they journey to Madison, Wisconsin for the 2018 NCAA Cross Country Championships Saturday, Nov. 17.

ALL-REGION HONOREES

  • Gilbert Boit
  • Cameron Griffith
  • Ryan Murphy
  • Matt Young
  • Ethan Moehn
  • Colin O’Mara
  • Graham Brown

For more information on Arkansas Cross Country including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.

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