FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas' men's track and field team will have more competitors at the NCAA West Regional than the Razorbacks did in winning at the SEC Championships two weeks ago.
Teams are limited to 30 entrants at the SEC meet. The No. 5 Razorbacks have 36 athletes in 19 events at the West Regional, including the 400- and 1,600-meter relays.
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NCAA West Regional track and field meet
WHEN Today-Saturday
WHERE Rock Chalk Park, Lawrence, Kan.
WHO Combined 62 athletes for Arkansas’ men’s and women’s teams. The men have 36 athletes in 19 events and the women 26 athletes in 14 events.
FORMAT Top 12 finishers in each event and six teams in the relays advance to the NCAA Championships June 8-11 in Eugene, Ore.
The meet begins today and runs through Saturday at Kansas' Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kan.
"It's by far the largest contingent of any school in the country," Arkansas Coach Chris Bucknam said. "It's good energy for us.
"Our whole team is here for the most part -- except for a couple guys we're redshirting or just missed qualifying -- with a blend of veterans and young guys.
"Hopefully, there's strength in numbers."
The top 12 qualifiers in each event and six teams in the relays advance to the NCAA Championships June 8-11 in Eugene, Ore.
Arkansas will be led by senior Jarrion Lawson, a three-time NCAA champion and 15-time All-American.
Lawson is competing in the long jump, 100 and 200 meters and 400 relay. He scored a combined 20 points in those four events at the SEC meet.
"Jarrion knows he's got a heavy workload, but I think he enjoys that," Bucknam said. "I think he performs well in that environment."
Brad Culp and Derek Jacobus already have qualified for Arkansas in the decathlon for nationals.
Other top performers for the Razorbacks at the West Regional are Clive Pullen, a two-time SEC triple jump champion who won the national indoor title; Andrew Ronoh and Gabe Gonzalez in the 10,000; Jack Bruce in the 1,500 and 5,000; Frankline Tonui and Cale Wallace in the 3,000-meter steeplechase; Marqueze Washington and Kenzo Cotton in the 100 and 200; Carlton Orange in the 800; Ken LeGassey in the high jump; Alex George in the 5,000; and Kemar Mowatt and Larry Donald in the 400-meter hurdles.
"It's do or die for us right now," Bucknam said. "You can't score points in Eugene unless you perform really well here."
Bucknam said he's proud Arkansas has so many competitors at the West Regional.
"It doesn't guarantee a national championship, but there is that sense of accomplishment," he said. "We feel like we're doing our job getting guys here. Hopefully, we have them prepared to run well."
Sports on 05/26/2016