State sports briefs

CROSS COUNTRY

UA teams picked No. 1

Arkansas’ men’s and women’s cross country team are predicted to repeat as SEC champions in the conference coaches poll released Wednesday.

Arkansas’ men, who have won 21 of 23 SEC cross country titles, received 10 of 13 first-place votes with Ole Miss finishing second in the poll with three first-place votes and Florida third. Coaches were not allowed to vote for their own team, and there are 13 men’s teams because South Carolina doesn’t field one.

Arkansas’ women’s team received 13 first-place votes. Vanderbilt received one and was picked to finish second with Texas A&M picked third.

The SEC Cross Country Championships will be Oct. 31 in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

BASEBALL

Kowalchuk promoted

Former Arkansas pitcher Christian Kowalchuk has been named a volunteer assistant coach for the Razorbacks after being a graduate assistant the previous two seasons, Coach Dave Van Horn announced Wednesday.

Kowalchuk will assist pitching coach Dave Jorn and work with hitters and outfielders.

MOTOR SPORTS

ASCS event to honor veteran racer

The Lucas American Sprint Car Series will be racing “40 for Shorty” tonight at Riverside International Speedway in West Memphis.

Shorty Chambliss, who raced sprinted cars in the region during six decades, died Monday after a long battle with cancer. He was 80.

Throughout his driving career and later as a car owner, Chambliss’ cars sported the No. 40. Tonight, at the track where he raced more than any other, the ASCS feature will be 40 laps in honor of Chambliss.

Chambliss, of Southaven, Miss., began driving race cars in 1952 and his career lasted until 2006. He also provided cars for several young drivers in the region, including a 14-year-old from Olive Branch, Miss., named Ricky Stenhouse Jr., who now races in the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series.

Grandstand admission for tonight’s event is $25 for adults, $5 for children 6-12. Pit passes are $35.

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