Arkansas Track and Field After 81st Conference Title

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas track and field will travel to Lexington, Ky., for the 2007 SEC Championships, Feb. 23-25, at Kentucky’s Nutter Field House. The Razorbacks are on the hunt for Arkansas’ 81st conference title (cross country, indoor and outdoor). The Hogs have won the last two SEC Indoor team titles and nine of the last 10 including a seven-season streak (1997-2003).

Of the 17 events scored at the 2006 SEC Indoor Championships, six were won by seniors, another six were won by juniors and three sophomores took titles.

Peter Kosgei, the Razorbacks’ lone returning SEC Champion from 2006, won the 2006 SEC Indoor 5,000 meters and will look to retain his title in 2007. Kosgei also earned runner-up honors in the 3,000 meters behind former teammate Josphat Boit in 2006.

The SEC currently boasts six teams in the USTFCCCA poll and five teams in the Trackwire 25.Arkansas is sitting at No. 7 in the USTFCCCA poll and at No. 8 in the Trackwire 25. Five other SEC teams are also listed in the USTFCCCA poll with Auburn at No. 3, LSU at No. 11, South Carolina at 16th, Florida at 19th and Tennessee at No. 20.

Florida State remains in first place with 48 points in the Trackwire 25. Wisconsin also stays at No. 2 with 45 points and Texas rounds out the top three with 34 points. Among the SEC schools, Auburn ranks at No. 7, Tennessee is ranked No. 13 while LSU sits at 17thand Florida stands at 22nd.

Also released on Tuesday are the Dandy Dozen rankings. Six Razorbacks are ranked in five events and the distance medley relay fell to No. 10 after a No. 7 ranking last week.

J-Mee Samuels, who has clocked four provisional-qualifying times this season, is ranked No. 11 in the 60-meter dash. Eight-time All-American Peter Kosgei is ranked No. 3 and No. 2 in the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters, respectively. After a stellar 5,000-meter run at the Tyson Invitational, Scott MacPherson, who eclipsed his previous personal best by more than one minute, joined the ranks at No. 12 in the event.

In the field events, Alain Bailey, who has registered three provisional-qualifying marks, is ranked No. 8 in the long jump while teammate Mychael Stewart is sitting at No. 9. All-American triple jumper Nkosinza Balumbu, who set a season best 52-1.75 at the Tyson Invitational, remains at second in the triple jump standings.

All roads during the indoor season lead to March 9-10, the NCAA Indoor Championships. Nine Razorbacks have recorded 23 NCAA provisional-qualifying marks in eight events and are still in the hunt for their first automatic mark. Ten Razorbacks have set personal bests during the season. Five of those performances are also NCAA provisional-qualifying marks.