Arkansas Track Bids for Fourth NCAA Regional Title

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. Arkansas track and field will be looking for its fourth NCAA Mideast Regional title this weekend at Audrey J. Walton Stadium, in Columbia, Mo., Fri.-Sat., May 25-26.

The Hogs finished third with 41 points at the event in 2006 in Knoxville, Tenn. LSU won the team championships with 71 points while Tennessee finished second with 52.25 points.

The Razorbacks won the regional crown the first three years of the current NCAA format. Arkansas won the initial Mideast Regional in Columbus, Ohio in 2003 before taking the crown again in Baton Rouge, La., in 2004. In 2005, Arkansas won the Mideast Regional by a record 26.5 point margin in Bloomington, Ind.

Razorback athletes have won 10 individual event titles and two relay crowns since the inception of the regional-qualifying system in 2003.

Arkansas will send a total of 16 student-athletes to the 2007 NCAA Mideast Regional Championships to compete in nine different events.

A trio of Razorbacks will compete in multiple events this weekend. Daniel Quinn (Long Jump, Triple Jump), Mychael Stewart (Long Jump, 100 meters and 4×100-meter relay) and J-Mee Samuels (100 meters and 4×100-meter relay) will have two busy days of multiple events.

Arkansas track and field is ranked No. 12 by the United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association and Trackwire 25, it was announced on Tuesday. Seven Razorbacks were also tabbed in the Trackwire Dandy Dozen.

Defending NCAA Outdoor Champion Florida State is seated at the top of the Trackwire 25 and the USTFCCCA poll while LSU has moved up to No. 2 in the USTFCCCA and Trackwire 25. Auburn rounds out the top three at No. 3 in the Trackwire 25 and the USTFCCCA.

Also released on Tuesday are the Dandy Dozen rankings. Seven Razorbacks are ranked in five events.

In the Dandy Dozen, 10-time All-American Peter Kosgei remains at No. 6 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase after a bronze finish at the SEC Championships. J-Mee Samuels propelled to No. 7 in the 100-meter rankings after earning runner-up honors at the SEC Championships.

After a fourth-place finish and season-best time of 39.89 at the SEC Championships, the 4×100-meter relay (Cedric Zellner, Clemore Henry, Stewart and Samuels) enters the rankings at No. 11.

In the field events, SEC runner-up Alain Bailey remains at No. 6 in the long jump. In the triple jump, two-time All-American and three-time SEC Champion Nkosinza Balumbu moved up to No. 2.

For complete a complete listing of the Trackwire 25 and the USTFCCCA poll, visit www.trackshark.com or www.ustfccca.org. For an updated schedule and live results of the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships, visit www.mutigers.com.