Razorbacks announce 2021 cross country schedule

FAYETTEVILLE – Returning to a conventional season of racing, the Razorbacks have scheduled seven meets for the 2021 cross country campaign. Arkansas, the defending SEC champions who placed fourth in the NCAA Championships, returns 14 runners from last season’s squad while adding four freshmen to the lineup.

The Razorbacks open the 2021 season on Labor Day weekend with a trip to Columbia, Missouri, (Sept. 3) which will also serve as the host site for the SEC Championships on October 29^th. Arkansas then travels to Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, for the Boston College Battle in Beantown (Sept. 24).

On October 2, the Chile Pepper Festival will take place on Agri Park for the Razorbacks lone home meet appearance this season. A trip to Tallahassee, Florida, follows (Oct. 15) for the Pre-Nationals Invitational to preview the course that serves as host for the NCAA Championships (Nov. 20).

Following the SEC Championships hosted by Missouri, Arkansas travels to Waco, Texas, for the NCAA South Central Regional hosted by Baylor (Nov. 12). The top two teams in the region meet automatically advance to the NCAA Championship field of 31 teams.

Three All-Americans – Amon Kemboi, Luke Meade and Gilbert Boit – are among the returning crew of six Razorbacks who competed in NCAA Championship race, which was held in March of 2020 due to the pandemic. The other three Razorbacks from that NCAA group include Emmanuel Cheboson, Jacob McLeod, and Ryan Murphy.

Of the 14 returning Razorbacks for the 2021 campaign, four of the scoring five who were part of the 2020 SEC title are back along nine of the 10 who raced in the conference meet. The returning crew also includes Andrew Kibet, Myles Richter, and Josh Shearer.

Freshman additions to the Arkansas roster include Reuben Reina, Elias Schreml, Ben Shearer and Jack Williams.

2021 Cross Country Schedule