Defending Champs, No. 7 Razorbacks Look To Repeat at Drake Relays

April 23, 2015

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 7 University of Arkansas men’s track and field team continues its outdoor season this weekend at the 106th Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. The Razorbacks are the defending co-champions at the annual event. Competition begins Friday at 9:45 a.m. (CT) and continues through Saturday afternoon. Arkansas has competed at the Drake Relays in three of the past four years.

At the 2014 Drake Relays, the Razorback men scored 34 points to tie Illinois for the Hy-Vee Cup which is awarded to the top scoring team in the collegiate relay events. Arkansas won the 4×400-meter relay with additional runner-up finishes in the 4×100- and 4×800-meter relays. Returning standouts Jarrion Lawson and Omar McLeod were part of last year’s first-place performance in the 4×400-meter relay.

Along with their individual entries, the Razorbacks are set for competition in the 4×100-, 4×200-, 4×400-, 4×800-meter and sprint- and distance-medley relays. Arkansas is one of seven top-25 teams competing at the 106th Drake Relays, joined by No. 10 Texas Tech, No. 11 Georgia, No. 12 Baylor, No. 17 Oklahoma State, No. 19 Nebraska and No. 22 Arizona.

McLeod is set to open his outdoor campaign this weekend. In addition to relay duties, the 2015 NCAA indoor champion in the 60-meter hurdles is entered in the event’s outdoor counterpart. Despite not racing early, McLeod continues to hold his spot on the Bowerman Watch List thanks in part to his collegiate-record 7.45 performance to win his second-consecutive NCAA title in March.

Through the first four weeks of the outdoor season, the Razorbacks own five top-20 national efforts including an NCAA-leading time of 8:31.86 by Stanley Kebenei in the 3,000-meter steeplechase from last weekend’s Mt. SAC Relays. The Razorbacks also have top marks from Kemoy Campbell at 1,500 and 10,000 meters, Andrew Irwin in the pole vault and Jarrion Lawson in the long jump.

The Razorbacks’ next home meet is scheduled for May 1 with the Arkansas Twilight. For more information about tickets for home events, call 800-982-HOGS (4647), email raztk@uark.edu or visit the Razorback Ticket Center located just east of Baum Stadium.

Competing in the nation’s toughest conference, Arkansas is one of nine SEC teams in this week’s USTFCCCA national poll. All nine teams are within the top 18 spots including five inside the top 10. The 2015 SEC Outdoor Championships will be contested May 14-16 at Spencer Stadium/Maddox Track in Starkville, Miss.

For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.