2012 Arkansas Hall of Honor Inductee

This is the first in a series of stories on the members of the University of Arkansas Hall of Honor Class of 2012. The class includes Edrick Floreal, Andrew Lang, Bill McClard, Bruce Maxwell, Ronn Reynolds, Clyde Rhoden, Jody Rittenhouse, Lisa Sparks, Terry Stewart and Dennis Winston. The official induction is Friday, Aug. 31, at the Holiday Inn Convention Center in Springdale. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased from the Razorback Foundation. For more information, call the Foundation at 479-443- 9000.
 
Before his success in coaching track and field, Edrick Floreal was a standout as a track and field competitor under head coach John McDonnell and the Razorbacks from 1987-90.

In a program known for turning out successful jumpers, Floreal was the premier triple jumper in the nation during his time at Arkansas.  Floreal won his first NCAA event title in 1988 and went on to sweep the indoor and outdoor championships in 1989 and 1990, becoming only the second of seven Razorbacks to achieve that feat as a triple jumper.  He finished the 1989 season at No. 5 in the world in the triple jump.

Floreal stood out among his opponents in the Southwest Conference. He earned six SWC championships with five victories in the triple jump along with grabbing the indoor long jump crown in 1990. His stellar performances helped the Razorbacks to seven Southwest Conference team titles. To this day, he remains the No. 3 performer in the triple jump, indoor and outdoor, in school history.

Floreal's accomplishments brought him plenty of accolades. He was a nine-time All- American at Arkansas and was part of four NCAA indoor team championships, continuing what would become a 12-year (1984-95) indoor championship streak for the Razorbacks.
Floreal served as an assistant coach for various NCAA track programs before becoming the director of the track and field programs at Stanford in 2005. He recently returned to the SEC as head coach for the Kentucky Wildcats. Floreal also served as the jumps coach for Team USA in the 2012 Summer Olympics.

For more information regarding inductees in the 2012 Hall of Honor class and University of Arkansas Athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.