Bucknam Ulrey earn post-season honors

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Razorback men’s track and field picked up post-season awards after winning its 92nd conference and 16th Southeastern Conference Indoor Championship last weekend, it was announced by the conference office Thursday.

Head coach Chris Bucknam has been named the SEC Men’s Coach of the Year. Under the tutelage of Bucknam, in his first year at the helm of the Arkansas track and field program, the Razorbacks won four individual and relay events and earned seven runner-up finishes. Arkansas scored 130 points to Florida’s 102 to win the latest conference title.

"I’m so impressed with this team and the performances our guys turned in to win this SEC Championship," head coach Chris Bucknam said. "This championship is important for so many reasons. I know it’s my first with Arkansas but more importantly, we have a great group of seniors who competed in their last SEC Indoor meet. I wanted this win so badly for them and I’m so happy they got it."

Junior Dorian Ulrey has been named the SEC Runner of the Year. Ulrey is the first Arkansas runner to win the annual accolade since Alistair Cragg in 2004. He was the 2009 SEC Indoor Champion in the mile (3:59.77) and 3,000 meters (7:55.56). He ran the SEC’s top times in mile (3:57.60), 3,000 meters (7:50.86) and as the anchor of the DMR (9:28.35) in 2009. He also ran the NCAA’s No. 3 mile time, No. 4 3K time and No. 1 DMR time in 2009.

"Dorian Ulrey is a competitor and a fighter," Bucknam said. "I couldn’t be happier for him and the success he has had this season. He trains hard and does everything right so he really deserves this award. He put his stamp on the SEC."

Ulrey set the school record as the anchor leg of the DMR with a 3:54 mile split earlier this season. His season bests rank No. 9 on UA’s mile list and No. 6 on UA’s 3K list.

He earned two SEC Runner of the Week honors (1/27, 2/3), was the only runner at the 2009 SEC Indoor Championships to win two individual events and is the first Arkansas student-athlete to win two individual titles at the same indoor championship since Peter Kosgei won the 3K and the 5K in 2005.

Arkansas also had numerous student-athletes named to the SEC first, second and all-freshman teams. Named to the All-SEC first team were Michael Chinchar (DMR), Alex McClary (800 meters and DMR), Duncan Phillips (DMR), Jake Stephens (DMR) and Dorian Ulrey (mile and 3,000 meters).

Named to the All-SEC second team were Alain Bailey (long jump), Nkosinza Balumbu (triple jump), Shawn Forrest (3,000 meters and 5,000 meters), Marek Niit (200 meters), Duncan Phillips (mile) and J-Mee Samuels (60 meters).

Rick Elliott was named to the SEC All-Freshman Team for his eighth-place finish in the mile. He clocked a PR of 4:08.33 and was part of a 1-2-4-8 finish for Arkansas in the event.

Additionally, the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCCA) announced its All-Academic Team for the 2008 cross country season and Arkansas sophomore Lane Boyer was named to the list. Boyer, a horticulture major, finished 25th at the SEC Championships and 11th at the NCAA South Central Regional Championships.

The Razorbacks will host a last chance meet Fri., March 6 before the accepted entries to the NCAA Indoor Championships are released Monday, March 9. For more information, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.