2010 starts for No. 5 men's track

FAYETTEVILLE – No. 5 Arkansas Razorback men’s track and field will open the 2010 indoor season with the hosting of the Arkansas Invitational on Fri., Jan. 8.

Oklahoma and Ole Miss will be competing with the Hogs at the Randal Tyson Track Center on Friday. Field events will begin at 1 p.m., running prelims at 3 p.m. and running finals at 5 p.m. Live results can be found at ArkansasRazorbacks.com. A complete meet recap will be available shortly after the final event.

Friday’s meet will mark the second for the Arkansas program with head coach Chris Bucknam. Bucknam led the Razorbacks to 2009 SEC Indoor and Outdoor team titles as well as top-10 finishes at the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor Championships.

Bucknam, with assistant coaches Doug Case and Travis Geopfert, welcome back five All-Americans (senior Alain Bailey, senior Scott MacPherson, junior Duncan Phillips, sophomore Ben Skidmore and senior Dorian Ulrey) and 23 letterwinners for the 2010 season. Joining the squad will be 27 newcomers.

The Razorbacks are seated at No. 5 and are the second-highest Southeastern Conference school within the rankings, including seven SEC teams total. The Florida Gators are ranked No. 2, the LSU Tigers ninth, the South Carolina Gamecocks are 12th, the Auburn Tigers are No. 15, the Kentucky Wildcats are 17th and the Georgia Bulldogs sit at No. 19.

Arkansas’ 2010 roster boasts nine talented student-athletes from the Natural State including freshman Jordan Bryant (Conway), freshman Caleb Cross (Newport), freshman Cameron Efurd (Rogers) and freshman Micah Washington (Fort Smith).

Bourke, Cross, Eric Fernandez, Hamilton, Brandon Heeger, Alex Kelly, Matt Kirbos, Dylan Roberts and Stuart Sparks are expected to make their Arkansas debuts on the track on Friday.

Similar to past seasons, Arkansas will host a bevy of home meets at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The Arkansas Invitational, Razorback Invitational, Tyson Invitational, SEC Championships, Arkansas Last Chance and NCAA Championships are on the 2010 slate. Arkansas will travel in January for the Texas A&M Challenge. February will hold a trip to New York for the New Balance Collegiate Invitational.

Download: 1.8.10 Ark Inv.pdf