No. 1 Arkansas hosts NCAA West next week, totals 29 entries
FAYETTEVILLE – No. 1 Arkansas will host the NCAA West First Round competition next week, May 22-25, at John McDonnell Field with 29 entries for the NCAA Championships in 15 events.
A total of 24 Razorbacks qualified for the NCAA West with Lance Lang advancing in four events – 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m, and 4 x 400m. Already securing a spot in Eugene, Oregon, for the NCAA Championships are Arkansas decathletes Jack Turner and Yariel Soto Torrado.
The number of entries for Arkansas ranks equal second best in the NCAA West with Texas as they trails the 37 entries for Texas Tech. Following are Texas A&M (28), BYU (27), and Houston (25).
With 48 entries in each event, the NCAA West First Round competition will determine the 12 individuals and relays who will advance to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Oregon, from June 5-8.
Five Razorbacks qualified in the 110m hurdles, where Arkansas is the national event squad leader with a four-person average of 13.57 seconds. Four Razorbacks qualified in the 400m, which include three legs of the world-leading 4 x 400m relay.
Arkansas has multiple entries in a total of seven events – 100m, 200m, 400m, 10k, 110m hurdles, high jump and decathlon.
The Razorbacks hold the number one seed in three events within the NCAA West with Lang’s 20.04 in the 200m, a 2:59.03 4 x 400m relay, and Wayne Pinnock in the long jump with a mark of 27-0.75 (8.25).
Additional top five seeds include James Benson II with a No. 2 seed of 44.85 in the 400m, Ben Shearer’s 13:32.98 ranks No. 5 in the 5,000m, William Spencer, Jr. ranks No. 5 in the 400m hurdles with a 49.77, as well as Romaine Beckford at No 5 in the high jump with a height of 7-3.75 (2.23).
This season marks the 14th consecutive national championship where Arkansas is represented in the decathlon, with Oregon next best at five consecutive years. Georgia’s streak of 11 years ended this season.
While 14 schools have qualified both a 4 x100m and 4 x 400m relay to the NCAA West meet, the Razorbacks are one of just three schools nationally to have both relays in the regional meet every year since 2010. The other two schools are Florida and LSU.
Arkansas is the lone men’s program in the NCAA West to have both relays qualify for the preliminary rounds every year of the regional format.
Arkansas Men | Entries | NCAA West
29 Entries, 15 Events, 24 Athletes
Event rankings
| 100 | =13) 10.16 Lance Lang, =39) 10.29 Tevijon Williams |
| 200 | 1) 20.04 Lance Lang, =43) 20.81 Connor Washington, 46) 20.83 Tevijon Williams |
| 400 | 2) 44.85 James Benson II, 17) 45.74 Steven McElroy, =18) 45.76 TJ Tomlyanovich, =44) 46.53 Brandon Battle |
| 800 | =33) 1:48.90 Riley Wells |
| 5000 | 5) 13:32.98 Ben Shearer |
| 10,000 | 10) 28:14.77 Patrick Kiprop, 20) 28:30.70 Kirami Yego, 21) 28:31.56 Jacob McLeod |
| 110H | 12) 13.48w Tai Brown, =15) 13.56 Phillip Lemonious, =15) 13.56 Elijah Morris, =20) 13.69 William Spencer, Jr., =24) 13.73 Brevin Sims |
| 400H | 5) 49.77 William Spencer, Jr. |
| 4 x 100 | 7) 39.06 Arkansas |
| 4 x 400 | 1) 2:59.03 Arkansas |
| High Jump | 5) 7-3.75 (2.23) Romaine Beckford, =7) 7-2.5 (2.20) Kason O’Riley |
| Pole Vault | =37) 17-0.75 (5.20) John Scott Kendricks |
| Long Jump | 1) 27-0.75 (8.25) Wayne Pinnock |
| Triple Jump | 6) 52-11.5 (16.14) Apalos Edwards |
| Decathlon | 4) 7935 Jack Turner, 5) 7834 Yariel Soto Torrado |
NCAA West | Leading Entries (+ Decathlon)
| 37 | Texas Tech |
| 29 | Arkansas |
| 29 | Texas |
| 28 | Texas A&M |
| 27 | BYU |
| 25 | Houston |
| 23 | Nebraska |
| 23 | Iowa State |
| 21 | Washington |
| 20 | USC |
| 20 | Arizona |