Franks Caps Career with Top-15 Finish in Decathlon

EUGENE, Ore. – Competing in the final decathlon of his collegiate career, senior Nathanael Franks finished in 15th place at the 2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships. The Damascus, Ore., native posted a pair of top-10 event finishes Thursday on his way to 7,099 points in the two-day competition. The No. 5 University of Arkansas men’s track and field team returns to action with eight qualifiers in Friday’s championship events.

Along with their five qualifiers from Wednesday’s semifinal round, the Razorbacks will have scoring opportunities on the track at 5,000 meters and in the field events in the high jump and triple jump.

On to the Finals (All Friday, times central) >>
Ken LeGassey – High jump | 6 p.m.
Clive Pullen – Triple jump | 6:30 p.m.
McLeod/Lawson/Cotton/Washington – 4x100m | 6:35 p.m.
Stanley Kebenei – 3,000m steeplechase | 6:57 p.m.
Omar McLeod – 110m hurdles – 7:15 p.m.
Jarrion Lawson – 100m | 7:25 p.m.
Kemoy Campbell – 5,000m | 8:30 p.m.
Cotton/Lawson/McLeod/Washington – 4x400m | 8:50 p.m.

Making his second-career NCAA appearance in the decathlon, Franks began the day in 19th but used a ninth-place finish in the discus and fourth-place showing at 1,500 meters to move up four spots in the overall standings. His effort will result in an All-America Second Team certificate when awards after announced after the meet. Franks caps his standout career at Arkansas both athletically and academically which includes being named the 2014-15 SEC H. Boyd McWhorter Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year.

2015 NCAA Outdoor Championships | Day 2
Hayward Field | Eugene, Ore.

Decathlon (Day 1)
15. Nathanael Franks – 7,099 points
18. 110m Hurdles – 15.90 (+1.0) [744 points]
9. Discus – 39.85m/130-9 [662]
11. Pole Vault – 4.40m/14-5.25 [731]
17. Javelin – 46.91m/153-11 [543]
4. 1,500 Meters – 4:26.89 [765]

The NCAA Outdoor Championships will be more visible than ever before with 12 hours of television coverage on the ESPN family of networks with additional online streams dedicated to the multi and field events.

NCAA Championships Broadcast Schedule (All times central)

Friday, June 12
Field Events – 6 p.m. | ESPN3
Men’s Championships – 6:30 p.m. | ESPNU

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