10 Razorbacks Qualify For NCAA Championships
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – The No. 3 Arkansas men’s track and field team will have 10 opportunities to score off the heels of 10 Razorbacks at next weekend’s 2018 NCAA Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas, as they pursue the programs 42nd NCAA title.
Previous Qualifier Numbers (NCAA Finish, Final Score)
• 2017 – 10 (Fifth, 33 points)
• 2016 – 12 (Second, 39 points)
• 2015 – 10 (Third, 39 points)
• 2014 – 13 (Second, 54 points)
• 2013 – 19 (First, 74 points)
• 2012 – 10 (Second, 47 points)
All-American sprinter Kenzo Cotton will once again return to the NCAA indoor meet in the 60-meter dash and 200. Cotton scored points for the Razorbacks in both events last year, placing seventh in the 200 and eighth in the 60. He heads into next weekend’s competition ranked fourth in the 200 and 10th in the 60. In addition to Cotton, junior Obi Igbokwe also posted qualifying marks in multiple events including the 200, 400 and 4-x-400, opting to focus on the latter two to give him the best opportunity to contribute the most points to the team.
Arkansas’ distance banner will be carried in tow by Jack Bruce in the 5,000 and Cameron Griffith in the 3,000. Bruce comes in as the 2017 NCAA outdoor runner-up in the same event and is well trained following an All-American effort last fall at the 2017 NCAA XC Championships in Louisville. Griffith heads into the meet as the 2018 SEC champion and meet record holder at 3,000 meters. His personal best in the event of 7 minutes, 49.78 seconds ranks him at No. 5 on the NCAA leader boards and is the fifth-fastest time in program history.
In the field events, the Razorbacks will be represented in the long jump by South Plains college transfer Laquan Nairn, in the high jump by Iowa Central transfer Jah-Nhai Perinchief and in the heptathlon by two-time combined events All-American Gabe Moore.
The Razorbacks will open competition at the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championship on Friday, March 9. as the indoor season will conclude on Saturday, March 10 in College Station.
Arkansas Qualifiers
60 Meters – 4. Kenzo Cotton 6.59
200 Meters – 10. Kenzo Cotton, 20.61
400 Meters – 3. Obi Igbokwe, 45.38 | 16. Rhayko Schwartz, 46.08
3,000 Meters – 5. Cameron Griffith, 7:49.78
5,000 Meters – 11. Jack Bruce, 13:43.34
4-x-400-Meter Relay – 5. Schwartz, Igbokwe, Stephen, Mowatt, 3:04.53
High Jump – 11. Jah-Nhai Perinchief, 2.22m/7-3 1/4
Long Jump – 11. Laquan Nairn, 7.87m/25-10
Heptathlon – 7. Gabe Moore, 5,777 points
For more information on Arkansas track and field, including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.
