Hogs Fall to Fourth in Trackwire Poll

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas fell from second to fourth in the latest national indoor track and field poll released by Trackwire.com. The Razorbacks opened the indoor season ranked No. 1, but fell to No. 4 this week after spending the past two weeks at No. 2.

The poll is based on projected scoring at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships set for March 10-11 at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville.

The Hogs own eight NCAA provisional qualifying times and marks, but added only one additional qualifier last weekend at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York, N.Y. McDonnell’s squad will get its final regular-season opportunity to bolster its numbers this weekend at the Tyson Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

Arkansas still boasts 13 entries in the latest edition of the Dandy Dozen individual event rankings. The Dandy Dozen ranks the top 12 competitors and relay teams based on projected scoring at the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Senior Josphat Boit, junior Peter Kosgei, senior Jaanus Uudmae and freshman J-Mee Samuels are all ranked in multiple events. Boit is ranked third in both the 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters. Kosgei holds down the fourth spot in the same events. Uudmae, the defending Southeastern Conference triple jump champion, ranks second in that event and seventh in the long jump. Samuels is ranked eighth in the 200 meters and ninth in the 60 meters.

Freshman Colin Costello, junior Adam Perkins and senior Said Ahmed rank sixth, 10th and 12th in the mile run, respectively. Freshman jumper Nkosinza Balumbu is currently ranked fourth in the triple jump.

Arkansas improved its time in the distance medley relay last weekend, but still must meet the provisional qualification standard. The Hogs rank seventh nationally in the distance medley relay this week.