Robert Black

Road To London: National Team Spot On The Line

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Recently dubbed the John McDonnell Program of the Year the Arkansas men’s track and field team will send a large contingent of current and former Hogs to Sacramento this week to compete at the 2017 USATF Outdoor Championships.

Date/Time: Thursday, June 22 | Friday, June 23 | Saturday, June 24 | Sunday June 25
Venue: California State University (Hornet Stadium)
Important Links: Live Results | Sr. Start Lists
Broadcast Schedule: NBC

A spot on the United States national team is on the line for the 14 Razorbacks entered in the four-day competition at California State University. The top-three finishers in each event will represent Team USA in London, England on Aug. 5-13 at the 2017 IAAF World Championships.

Current Razorbacks traveling to California includes Kenzo Cotton (100, 200), Obi Igbokwe (400), Derek Jacobus (Decathlon), Eric Janise (400), Gabe Moore (Decathlon), Rhayko Schwartz (400), Josh Washington (200) and Travonn White (long jump). The eight current Hogs will be joined by six ProHogs including: Tyson Gay (100, 200), Andrew Irwin (Pole Vault), Stanley Kebenei (Steeplechase), Jarrion Lawson (100, Long Jump), Wallace Spearmon Jr. (200) and Marqueze Washington (100, 200).

Razorbacks in the World Rankings
A former three-season All-American Kebenei currently boasts the third-best performance in the steeplechase by an American. Kebenei’s time of 8 minutes, 18.55 seconds ranks him at No. 19 on the 2017 world list.

Events to Watch
Arkansas speed will be on full display this week with three entries in the 100 and five entries in the 200. Gay and Lawson both earned spots on the U.S. 4-x-100-meter relay team last year as top-five finishers in the 100 at the 2016 Olympic Trials. In addition to his performance on the track, Lawson plans to finally, put together a full approach on the long jump runway for the first time this season in hopes of posting a podium-worthy mark at the national meet.

Current | Pro Match Ups

  • 100 Meters: Kenzo Cotton | Tyson Gay/Jarrion Lawson/Marqueze Washington. Strongest PR – Gay, 9.69 (2009)
  • 200 Meters: Kenzo Cotton/Josh Washington | Tyson Gay/Wallace Spearmon Jr./Marqueze Washington. Strongest PR – Gay, 19.58 (2009)
  • Long Jump: Travonn White | Jarrion Lawson. Strongest PR – Lawson, 8.58m/28-1 1/4 (2016)

Decathletes Derek Jacobus and Gabe Moore will open up competition for Arkansas, tomorrow afternoon at 1:45 p.m. with the decathlon 100-meter dash.

Arkansas USATF Event Schedule
Thursday, June 22
1:45 p.m. – Dec. 100m (D. Jacobus, G. Moore)
2:30 p.m. – Dec. Long Jump (D. Jacobus, G. Moore)
3:30 p.m. – Dec. Shot Put (D. Jacobus, G. Moore)
4:45 p.m. – Dec. High Jump (D. Jacobus, G. Moore)
8:35 p.m. – 100m First Round (K. Cotton, T. Gay, J. Lawson, M. Washington)
9:00 p.m. – Dec. 400m (D. Jacobus, G. Moore)
9:46 p.m. – 400m First Round (O. Igbokwe, E. Janise, R. Schwartz)

Friday, June 23
2:55 p.m. – Dec. 110mH (D. Jacobus, G. Moore)
3:40 p.m. – Dec. Discus (D. Jacobus, G. Moore)
5:25 p.m. – Dec. Pole Vault (D. Jacobus, G. Moore)
7:00 p.m. – Dec. Javelin (D. Jacobus, G. Moore)
7:31 p.m. – 100m Semifinals (K. Cotton, T. Gay, J. Lawson, M. Washington)
7:45 p.m. – Steeplechase First Round (Stanley Kebenei)
9:06 p.m. – Dec. 1,500m (D. Jacobus, G. Moore)
9:34 p.m. – 400m Semifinals (O. Igbokwe, E. Janise, R. Schwartz)
10:02 p.m. – 100m Finals (K. Cotton, T. Gay, J. Lawson, M. Washington)

Saturday, June 24
1:48 p.m. – 200m First Round (K. Cotton, T. Gay, W. Spearmon Jr., J. Washington, M. Washington)
2:00 p.m. – Pole Vault Finals (A. Irwin)
3:31 p.m. – 400m Finals (O. Igbokwe, E. Janise, R. Schwartz)

Sunday, June 25
2:00 p.m. – 200m Semifinals (K. Cotton, T. Gay, W. Spearmon Jr., J. Washington, M. Washington)
2:10 p.m. – Long Jump Finals (Jarrion Lawson, Travonn White)
4:16 p.m. – Steeplechase Finals (Stanley Kebenei)
4:33 p.m. – 200m Finals (K. Cotton, T. Gay, W. Spearmon Jr., J. Washington, M. Washington)

Italicized events require qualification.

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