Hog Track Ranked No. 12 Heading in to the NCAA Indoor Championships

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas track and field currently sits at No. 12 in the Trackwire 25 poll, it was announced on Tuesday. The University of Arkansas will host the 2007 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships, Fri.-Sat., March 9-10, at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

Events will begin at 9 a.m. on Friday with the men’s heptathlon. Field events will begin at 2:30 p.m. with the running events starting at 4:30 p.m. On Saturday, the day will start at 11 a.m. with the completion of the men’s heptathlon. Field events will begin at 4:30 p.m. and the running events will start at 6:15 p.m.

The Trackwire 25 projects a hypothetical score for the NCAA meet, factoring in injury reports and other variables supported by information gathered from coaches and NCAA-qualifying competitions across the country. This projection is generated by scoring the Dandy Dozen, a power ranking of the top 12 athletes and relay squads in each NCAA event.

Wisconsin leads the team standings with 46 points. Florida State, who has led the nation for most of the season, fell to No. 2 with 43 points. The Texas Longhorns round out the top three with 42 points.

Six Razorbacks will represent the University of Arkansas in five events at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Championships, it was announced by the NCAA on Monday.

Colin Costello’s 4:01.35 mile at the Arkansas Last Chance was good enough for the 12th spot of the 15 accepted entries. Costello re-enters the Trackwire Dandy Dozen ranking at No. 8 in the mile. The mile prelims will start at 7:05 p.m. Friday night. The final will be run at 6:25 p.m. on Saturday.

Peter Kosgei will be competing in two events, the 3,000- and 5,000-meter runs. He has the 10th-fastest time in both events. 15 entries were accepted in each race. Kosgei is currently ranked No. 12 in the 3,000 meters and No. 9 in the 5,000 meters.

The 5,000 meters will be run at 8:30 p.m. on Friday and the 3,000 meters will be contested at 7:50 p.m. on Saturday.

Joining Kosgei in the 5,000 meters will be Scott MacPherson. MacPherson’s season-best time of 13:49.03 was clocked at the Tyson Invitational. MacPherson was the 14th athlete of the 15 competing accepted into the race.

In the long jump, Alain Bailey, sitting at No. 2 in the Trackwire Dandy Dozen, and Mychael Stewart, ranked No. 8, both made the list. Of the 17 accepted entries, Bailey, also the top freshman in the event, holds the 11th-best mark (25-4) and Stewart has the 14th-best mark (25-2.75).

Nkosinza Balumbu, the nation’s No. 2 triple jumper, will get another shot at an individual title in the triple jump. The two-time SEC Champion holds the seventh-best mark on the list and the second-best mark among sophomores (52-2).

The long jump will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday and the triple jump will start at 6:15 p.m. on Saturday.

For complete details, the most updated schedule and live results of the 2007 NCAA Indoor Championships, visit www.ladybacks.com.
For complete a complete listing of the Trackwire 25, visit www.trackshark.com.