Bucknam Announces 2018 Cross Country Slate
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Head coach Chris Bucknam announced the 2018 men’s cross country schedule that includes seven meets in six states capped by the NCAA Championships hosted by the University of Wisconsin.
“Cross country sets the stage for our entire year,” said Bucknam. “The last three years, we have come away with top-ten finishes at the NCAA meet. Our goal year in and year out is to win the SEC title, and we have a group that is certainly capable of that this year.”
The Arkansas men’s cross country team looks to kick off another strong Razorback campaign, opening up on Sept. 1 at the Hurricane Invitational in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Following the season-opening meet, Arkansas will travel to the site of this year’s NCAA Championships on Sept. 14 to take part in the Badger Open hosted by the University of Wisconsin.
Fans will get a chance to see the Hogs race at home this year, as Bucknam’s squad will look to defend their title at the 30th Annual Chile Pepper Festival on Sept. 22 at Agri Park.
Arkansas’ regular season will come to a close as the Hogs travel north to the campus of Penn State University for the Penn State National Oct. 12 in University Park, Pa.
The postseason competition will kick off with the SEC Championships in Auburn, Ala. on Oct. 26. Arkansas will then travel to College Station, Texas on Nov. 9 for the NCAA South Central Region Championships before closing out the season on Nov. 17 in Madison at the NCAA Championships.
Last year’s squad captured an SEC and South Central Regional title en route to a fifth-place finish at the NCAA meet in Louisville, Ky.
“We have a solid group of runners returning from last year’s team. Matt Young is returning, coming off an SEC Freshman of the Year performance last year. Cameron Griffith made great strides through the track season and will be one to watch for us at the SEC and NCAA Championships. And we will add Gilbert Boit, who joined the team last winter, who is an outstanding cross country runner. “
| Date | Meet | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Sat, Sept. 1 | Hurricane Invitational | Tulsa, Okla. |
| Fri, Sept. 14 | Badger Open | Madison, Wis. |
| Sat, Sept. 22 | Chile Pepper Festival | Fayetteville, Ark. |
| Fri, Oct. 12 | Penn State National | University Park, Pa. |
| Fri, Oct. 26 | SEC Championships | Auburn, Ala. |
| Fri, Nov. 9 | NCAA South Central Regional | College Station, Texas |
| Sat, Nov. 17 | NCAA Championships | Madison, Wis. |
- Chili Pepper Festival held at Agri Park in Fayetteville, Ark.
#RazorFacts
- 2017 Fifth-place team at the NCAA Cross Country Champions
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- Three-straight top-ten finish at NCAA Cross Country Championship that is matched only by Colorado, Oregon, and Stanford over the last three years.
- Back-to-back top-five finishes at NCAA Cross Country Championships
- NCAA Cross Country National Championships Advancement for six-straight years (9 out of the last 10 years)
- One of 10 programs in the nation with a six-year or longer streak at NCAA Cross Championships (Arkansas, BYU, Colorado, Iona, Oklahoma St., Oregon, Stanford, Syracuse, Texas, Virginia)
- 2017 SEC Cross Country Champions
- Eighth-consecutive SEC Cross Country Title
- 20th SEC Title in 10 years
- Finished second in 2017-18 John McDonnell Program of the Year Standings
- Sixth-straight year in top-three – best in the NCAA
- The only team in the NCAA with back to back years (2016-17 and 2017-18) in the top 3
For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.
