Bucknam Booth Honored by USTFCCCA

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Chris Bucknam and Dick Booth, members of the Arkansas men’s track and field coaching staff, have earned U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Regional Coach of the Year awards, it was announced Monday.

Bucknam has been named the USTFCCCA South Central Region Co-Coach of the Year. He led the Razorbacks to the 2009 SEC Outdoor and 2009 NCAA Mideast Regional titles in his first year as head coach. At the SEC Outdoor Championships, the Hogs picked up six individual titles: Alain Bailey (high jump and long jump), Shawn Forrest (5,000 meters), Scott MacPherson (3,000-meter steeplechase), Alex McClary (800 meters) and Dorian Ulrey (1,500 meters). At the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships, the Hogs picked up four individual titles: Chris Bilbrew (800 meters), Ulrey (1,500 meters), Bailey (long jump) and Nkosinza Balumbu (triple jump). Bucknam’s athletes ran the top times in the SEC in the 800 meters, the 1,500 meters, the 5,000 meters, the 10,000 meters and the steeplechase during the 2009 outdoor season.

Booth has been named the USTFCCCA South Central Region Assistant Coach of the Year. As Arkansas jumps coach, Booth’s athletes earned SEC Field Event (Alain Bailey) and Freshman Field Event (Tarik Batchelor) Athlete of the Year honors. Booth coached 2009 SEC Outdoor Champion Bailey (high jump and long jump) and 2009 NCAA Mideast Regional Champions Bailey (long jump) and Balumbu (triple jump). At the 2009 SEC Outdoor Championships, Booth’s athletes finished 1-7 in the high jump, 1-4-5-9 in the long jump and 2-3-10 in the triple jump. At the 2009 NCAA Mideast Regional Championships, Booth’s athletes finished 1-2-3 in the long jump and 1-3 in the triple jump. Additionally, under Booth’s tutelage, Bailey and Mychael Stewart record 26-foot long jumps at the regional championships. His athletes posted the top marks in the SEC in the high jump, long jump and the triple jump. Bailey’s season-best long jump leads the NCAA and Balumbu’s season-nest triple jump ranks No. 4 in the NCAA.

The University of Arkansas and the Razorback Athletic Department will host the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Wednesday-Saturday, June 10-13 at John McDonnell Field. Tickets are available by calling the Razorback Ticket office at 479-575-5151 or by visiting ArkansasRazorbacks.com. For meet information, a complete schedule of events and a fan guide, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.