Big points in 5,000 push Hogs to a title

Arkansas coach Chris Bucknam (front) celebrates with his athletes after the Razorbacks won the team title at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 15, 2021, in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Craig Bisacre, Texas A&M Athletics)
Arkansas coach Chris Bucknam (front) celebrates with his athletes after the Razorbacks won the team title at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday, May 15, 2021, in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Craig Bisacre, Texas A&M Athletics)

Going into the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, the University of Arkansas was fifth among conference men's teams in the national rankings.

At No. 13, the Razorbacks were behind No. 1 LSU, No. 8 Florida, No. 10 Texas A&M and No. 11 Alabama.

But when the team championship trophy was awarded Saturday night in College Station, Texas, it was Arkansas Coach Chris Bucknam who lifted it above his head in celebration with the Razorbacks.

"We knew there were a bunch of teams ranked ahead of us," Bucknam said. "But we pulled it off. I love beating those other SEC teams. You're beating great programs."

Arkansas won with 129 points. Alabama was second with 109 points, and LSU third with 108.

It's the Razorbacks' 20th SEC outdoor title since joining the conference for the 1991-92 school year, but their first since 2016.

Arkansas also won its 16th SEC triple crown -- cross country, indoor and outdoor track titles in the same school year -- and first since 2015-16.

"I'm super proud of what the guys have done all year, in such a tough year with all the covid stuff and regulations," Bucknam said. "We battled through it and won three championships."

The Razorbacks scored 29 points in the 5,000 meters -- the next-to-last event before the to 1,600 relay -- to clinch the title.

Arkansas got a 1-2 finish from juniors Amon Kemboi, who won in 13:52.98, and Emmanuel Cheboson, who was second in 13:59.28.

On the track, Kemboi outsprinted Alabama's Vincent Kiprop to win, but after the race Kiprop was disqualified for pushing Arkansas junior Luke Meade, who then was moved up to third. Also scoring in the 5,000 for the Razorbacks were senior Gilbert Boit (fifth in 14:05.27) and junior Matt Young (seventh in 14:12.29).

"When there's 45 guys on that track, there's going to be pushing and shoving," Bucknam said. "The Kiprop kid pushed a little bit too hard, but it didn't affect the outcome of the team race. It was just one of those things. No hard feelings.

"We knew it was going to come down to the 5,000 two days ago. So we were prepared for it. We had a plan to take it out and control the pace and have it be our kind of race."

Kemboi took third in the 1,500 (3:40.41) earlier Saturday. Boit, Meade and Young also scored in Thursday night's 10,000 -- taking second, third and fourth -- and Cheboson was fourth in the 3,000 steeplechase Friday night.

"Those distance runners have been tough as nails all year, whether it's cross country or indoor or outdoor track," Bucknam said. "They all came thorough. Tough group of dudes, man."

Arkansas senior Laquan Nairn took third in the triple jump (53-9 3/4) and sophomore Etamar Bhastekar third in the pole vault (17-6 1/2).

Three Razorbacks scored in the 110 hurdles with freshman Phillip Lemonious fourth (13:32), sophomore Tre'Bien Gilbert fifth (13:48) and senior Carl Elliott sixth (13:52).

Junior Roman Turner was sixth in the 100 (10.12) for Arkansas, senior Nick Hilson seventh in the 400 hurdles (51.69) and junior Jalen Brown seventh in the 200 (20.72).

The Razorbacks' 400 relay of Turner, Kris Hari, Cade Clark and Brown ran 40.03 to take seventh.

The Razorbacks capped the meet by taking third in the 1,600 relay with Jeremy Farr, James Milholen, Hilson and Rhayko Schwartz running 3:04.96.

Kemboi won Arkansas' only individual title, but 22 Razorbacks combined to score in 14 events.

"We're a complete team," Bucknam said. "We do that by design. We're kind of built for a three-day meet."

Bucknam said the Razorbacks will do their best to try to win a national championship in Eugene, Ore., next month, but that nothing tops winning an SEC title.

"I've said it along -- even when we haven't won -- that I think the best track and field team in the country is the SEC champion," Bucknam said. "We have the best conference in the country.

"So I think if you win the SEC, you're the best."

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