Arkansas has impressive first day at Hayward Premiere
EUGENE, Ore. – A solid night of distance racing produced impressive marks for the Razorback on the first day of the Hayward Premiere hosted by the University of Oregon.
A stellar effort in the Invitational 5,000m produced a career best of 13:34.70 for Razorback Luke Meade, who had a previous best of 14:13.72, as he finished fifth. Now No. 10 on the UA all-time list, Meade moved ahead of Daniel Lincoln.
Six Razorbacks raced in the 10,000m as Matt Young led the pack with a seventh-place effort that resulted in a career best of 28:41.94. Emmanuel Cheboson followed in eighth place at 28:43.91 while Gilbert Boit placed 10th in 28:46.31.
The next three Arkansas runners included Myles Richter (29:04.84, 16th), Ryan Murphy (29:07.23, 18th), and Jacob McLeod (29:16.38, 23rd).
In the Invitational 1,500m, Amon Kemboi placed seventh with a time of 3:41.60.
Razorback freshman Ruben Banks, who broke the school record indoors in the weight throw, produced a mark of 211-2 (64.37) in his collegiate debut in the hammer to place second among a field of 11 throwers.
Wichita State’s Michael Bryan won the event with a toss of 224-10 (68.54). Banks became just the second Razorback to surpass 200 feet. Oregon’s Austin Tharp finished third with a mark of 195-0 (59.44).
Banks, who had a previous hammer best of 207-9 (63.33), opened with a 191-0 (58.22) and hit his best mark in round two. After a foul in round three, Banks came within an inch previous throw with a 211-1 (64.35). A mark of 194-10 (59.39) followed and he completed his series with a 203-5 (62.00).
Banks moved to No. 2 on the UA all-time list, and only trails the school record of 222-7 (67.84) set by Erich Sullins in 2019.
John Baker won the long jump with a leap of 23-6 ¼ (7.17) while Rhett Nelson placed second in the pole vault with a clearance of 16-0 ¾ (4.90). Braedon Maddox set a career best with his clearance of 15-7 (4.75) to finish fourth in the pole vault.