Team Success Garner’s Bucknam Praise
NEW ORLEANS – Following a first-place finish at the NCAA South Central Region Championship last Friday at Agri Park, the Arkansas men’s cross country team remains among the top programs in the nation, resting at No. 6.
Head coach Chris Bucknam was recognized for his team’s dominance this season named the NCAA Men’s South Central Coach of the Year by the USTFCCCA on Tuesday afternoon. Bucknam represented the Southeastern Conference in receipt of regional recognition along with Ole Miss coach Ryan Vanhoy, whose team finished first in the South region following its runner-up showing at the conference meet.
In his ninth year heading up the Arkansas men’s program, Bucknam led his team to meet titles at each of the three home competitions this season, including the Chile Pepper Festival and the SEC Championship. Since taking the helm in 2008, Bucknam has brought home seven-consecutive SEC titles and six regional victories.
Under his watch, junior Alex George raced to his first SEC cross country gold and was named to the All SEC first team along with teammates Jack Bruce, Frankline Tonui and Andrew Ronoh. Junior Austen Dalquist and newcomer Carter Persyn added to Bucknam’s impressive coaching achievements with spots on the All-SEC second team and SEC All-Freshmen team, respectively.
Bucknam and his squad seek to bring home a 12th national championship this Saturday, November, 19 in Terre Haute, Indiana at the NCAA Championship starting at 11 a.m. CT.
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