Balumbu Punches Ticket to NCAA Regionals on Final Day of Mt. SAC Relays

WALNUT, Calif. – The Razorbacks ended competition at Mt. SAC Relays adding one more NCAA regional-qualifying mark to their list. Arkansas recorded nine NCAA regional-qualifying marks during the three-day event.

Nkosinza Balumbu finished sixth in the 11-man field in the invitational triple jump with a leap of 51-5. The mark also qualifies him for the NCAA Mideast Championships.

In a packed field of professionals, Alain Bailey finished eighth in the invitational long jump with his leap of 24-4.5, his second regional mark of the season. Mychael Stewart made his outdoor debut in the long jump and finished 11th with a 23-3.25.

A star-studded field in the invitational 4×100-meter relay, former Hogs Wallace Spearmon (second leg) and Tyson Gay (third leg), joined by Trell Kimmons (first leg) and Aaron Armstrong (anchor leg), won the event with a world-leading time of 38.30.

The only collegiate team competing among the professionals in the invitational 4×100-meter relay, Cedric Zellner, Clemore Henry, Stewart and J-Mee Samuels combined for a time of 41.01 and finished eighth. The time, just off the NCAA regional-qualifying standard, matches their season-best run last weekend at Texas Relays.

Later in the day, Spearmon finished second in the invitational 100 meters with a time of 10.14, the sixth-fastest time run in the world this year.

In the 100 meters, Samuels finished second in his heat and eighth overall with a time of 10.53, just .03 seconds off the NCAA regional-qualifying time. Stewart was 21st overall, clocking a time of 10.68. Zellner’s time of 10.94 finished him 31st.

Former Hog and 2006 NCAA runner-up Eric Brown competed in the invitational javelin throw. He finished third with a mark of 234-1.

Next up, Arkansas will return to Fayetteville to host the John McDonnell Invitational, Sat., April 21 at John McDonnell Field. For complete details and a schedule for the John McDonnell Invitational, visit www.hogwired.com.