Bucknam Rewarded For Regional Efforts
NEW ORLEANS — Arkansas men’s cross country head coach Chris Bucknam has been selected as the 2017 NCAA South Central Region Coach of the Year, following his team’s commanding performance at the regional meet this past Friday in College Station, Texas.
Bucknam is a seven-time recipient of the award, having been selected in 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017.
2017 NCAA South Central Region Championships
Bucknam’s squad captured Arkansas’ 37th regional title by a 14-point margin ahead of Texas led by senior trio Jack Bruce, Alex George and Austen Dalquist. Bucknam’s three veterans all placed inside the top-10. His entire top-five, which included the three seniors as well as Matt Young and Andrew Ronoh earned All-Region recognition for completing the 10K course among the top-25 fastest runners of the day.
A native of Beverly, Massachusetts, Bucknam has amassed 17 NCAA South Central Region Coach of the Year awards between cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field since taking over the men’s program in 2008.
Bucknam Era
• 7 Regional Championships
• 7-time Region Coach of the Year
• 3 Region Individual Champions
The Razorbacks will face their final postseason challenge next weekend when they journey to Louisville, Kentucky for the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships Saturday Nov. 18. They head into the event ranked 15th in the latest USTFCCCA National Coaches’ Poll.
NCAA South Central Region Team Results (Top Five)
1. No. 15 Arkansas, 59 (5-7-8-15-24)
2. No. 21 Texas, 73 (3-12-18-19-21)
3. Texas A&M, 98 (4-6-23-27-38)
4. McNeese State, 173 (10-16-25-49-73)
5. Texas State, 179 (17-29-33-34-66)
2017 Cross Country Schedule
Fri, Sept. 1 – Cowboy Preview (Stillwater, Okla.) 1st of 4
Fri, Sept. 15 – Iona College Meet of Champions (New York, N.Y.) 2nd of 11
Sat, Sept. 30 – Chile Pepper Festival (Agri Park) 1st of 40
Sat, Oct. 14 – Pre-Nationals (Louisville, Ky.) 9th of 40
Fri, Oct. 27 – SEC Championship (Athens, Ga.) 1st of 13
Fri, Nov. 10 – NCAA South Central Regional (College Station, Texas) 1st of 23
Sat, Nov. 18 – NCAA Championship (Louisville, Ky.)
*italicized meet denotes completion.
For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.
