The Traveler

Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: Sports

Media Credit: Chris Bryan Senior Tyler Hill celebrates after finishing second in the 3000 meter run Saturday during the SEC Championship. The Razorbacks won their 83rd conference crown under coach John McDonnell.

When it comes to track and field and Arkansas, head coach John McDonnell gets an A.

With his 45th SEC title Sunday in 50 conference meets since coming to the UA, McDonnell has won 90 percent of the SEC indoor and outdoor track and cross country championships. Including Arkansas's time in the now-defunct Southwest Conference, McDonnell's Hogs have won 83 conference titles.

"It says a lot for the program and the great athletes that have come through this program over the years," McDonnell said.

The Hogs won in dramatic fashion on Day 3 of the SEC Championships, coming from behind after leading the competition before the day started.

Arkansas fell to third in the standings behind Tennessee and LSU after the Volunteers won the 200-meter dash, and the Tigers won the 3,000 meters, mile run and 60-meter dash.

But the Razorbacks rallied Sunday afternoon, winning individual titles in the triple jump and distance-medley relay and finishing runner-up in the mile and 5K.

"Athlete after athlete came through, and we needed big performances to win," McDonnell said.

Arkansas finished won the meet with 124 points. LSU was runner-up with 108 points, followed by Tennessee with 99.5.

The Razorbacks took the lead after the 5,000 meters when they scored 23 points, with four of the top five finishers wearing Cardinal and White.

Sophomore James Strang led the Hogs with a second-place finish, followed by Chris Barnicle, Tyler Hill and Shawn Forrest.

"We came into this meet knowing we could pull this off," Strang said. "The mindset was to go out and press the pace and make it difficult for [other teams] to hang on.

After UA captain Nkosinza Balumbu beat teammate Daniel Quinn in the triple jump by about a foot, Balumbu led the crowd in calling the Hogs from the middle of the track while the Razorback DMR team circled.

"We clinched the victory-that's what it's all about," Balumbu said. "I [saw] a lot of heart today. I [saw] a lot of people digging down."

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools