UA Track and Field Inks Three During Early Signing Period

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas cross country and track and field head coach John McDonnell announced the addition of three student-athletes for the 2007-08 season. Spencer McCorkel (Bryant, Ark.), Duncan Phillips (College Station, Texas) and Michael Chinchar (Seattle, Wash.) will be some of the new Razorback faces next fall.

Local product McCorkel is a stand-out pole vaulter at Bryant High School. His personal best of 17-3, the nation’s leading mark, was set during the 2006 indoor season. During the 2006 outdoor season he cleared a height of 17-2, the seventh-best mark in the nation. A 2006 High School All-American, McCorkel was the 2006 AAAAA state champion with a height of 16-8, the Arkansas high school state record.

Duncan Phillips is a native of College Station and attends A&M Consolidated High School. He is a three-time 5A state champion in the 1,600 meters (4:10.96 in 2005 and 4:13.41 in 2006). He posted Texas’ fastest time in the 1,600 meters and the second-fastest time in the 800 meters (1:52.61) during the 2006 season. He boasts a personal-best mile time of 4:10.96.

Chinchar will travel to Fayetteville from his native Seattle. A distance star at Kentwood High School, Chinchar was the 2005 4A cross country and South Puget Sound League champion. In 2006, he finished 23rd at the 4A state cross country championships. On the track, he is the 2006 district champion in the 1,600 meters (4:16.16) and 3,200 meters (9:16.08). He also has personal bests of 4:12.02 in the mile (run at the 2006 Golden West Invite), 9:07.78 in the two mile, 8:37.52 in the 3,000 meters (also the nation’s ninth-best mark during the 2006 indoor season) and a 15:22.3 in the 5,000 meters.