Men's Track Opens Season at No. 3

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Razorback men’s track and field will open the 2009 indoor season with the hosting of the Arkansas Invitational. Kansas, Oklahoma, Ole Miss, Missouri Southern and Texas A&M will be competing with the Hogs at the Randal Tyson Track Center on Friday.

Field events will begin at 12 p.m., running events at 3:30 p.m. and running finals at 5:30 p.m. Live results can be found at ArkansasRazorbacks.com A complete meet recap will be available shortly after the final event.

Arkansas opens up the 2009 season ranked No. 3 in the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll. Leading the pack is No. 1 Oregon and No. 2 Arizona State. The Razorbacks are the highest seated of the six SEC schools in the poll.

Friday’s meet will mark the first with the Arkansas program for new head coach Chris Bucknam. Bucknam spent the last 25 seasons at the helm of the Northern Iowa Panther program.

Bucknam, with assistant coaches Dick Booth and Doug Case, welcome back eight All-Americans and 24 letterwinners for the 2009 season. Joining the squad will be 30 newcomers and redshirt freshmen. The Hogs also boast three new Division I transfers (Terry Prentice, Patrick Russell and Dorian Ulrey).

Similar to past seasons, Arkansas will host a bevy of home meets at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The Arkansas Invitational, Razorback Invitational, Tyson Invitational and Arkansas Last Chance are on the 2009 slate.

For more information about Arkansas track and field, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Download: 1.9.09 Ark Quad.pdf