2008 Woodie Awards
Track Hogs head to Oklahoma
Derek Oxford
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: Sports
The Arkansas track and field team had packed its bags for this weekend expecting to head out west once again, this time to Arizona State, but the trip fell through because of airline problems.
Now the Hogs have re-routed and will make the shorter western trek to Norman, Okla., to take part in the John Jacobs Invitational, hosted by Oklahoma.
Events in the field will begin Saturday around 10 a.m., and the running events will commence around 1 p.m.
The Hogs are sending their sprinters, jumpers and throwers to the event, while the distance competitors get a week off to prepare for the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville next weekend.
Other teams scheduled to be on hand at the John Jacobs Invitational are host Oklahoma, Kansas, Manhattan College, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Oral Roberts, TCU, UT-Arlington, Tulsa and Wyoming.
The Razorback are coming off a successful trip to Texas last weekend, winning the 4 x 1,500 meter at the Texas Relays in Austin.
The Hogs secured victory in the event for the 10th straight time, and, in the process, managed to notch seven regional-qualifying times.
Arkansas will now send participants to the regional in these events: javelin, long jump (2), triple jump, 4 x 100M (2) and pole vault.
Another Razorback, James Strang, earned an NCAA-qualifying time at the Stanford Invitational in the 10,000-meter run.
An unfortunate drop
Despite putting together an excellent team effort at the Texas Relays, not everything went according to plan for the Hogs while in Austin.
During the distance medley relay, freshman Michael Chinchar took the baton and was off and running as the lead leg, but dropped the important instrument about 100 meters into the race, instigating a restart for the entire pack.
Once the field was reset, Chinchar did all he could to keep up with the lead pace, but eventually fell behind and struggled to make it to the hand off.
"Chinchar ran like a freshman," Arkansas head coach John McDonnell said. "Our other guys did all they could to get back in the race but the lead was too big. It was a slow pace and a slow time won the race."
The Razorbacks' final time was clocked at 10:01.77.
Balumbu makes debut
One Hog managed to start off his outdoor season in style in Austin.
Junior Nkosinza Balumbu leapt his way to a 52-2.75 finish in the triple jump, but it was only good enough to place 7th in a very demanding field.
However, it was the Union City, Calif., native's first regional qualifying mark of the season, and currently stands as the best in the Southeastern Conference at this point.
Balumbu, the two-time defending champion in the event in SEC outdoor competition, is coming off his third-straight win in the event in the SEC indoor season.
Now the Hogs have re-routed and will make the shorter western trek to Norman, Okla., to take part in the John Jacobs Invitational, hosted by Oklahoma.
Events in the field will begin Saturday around 10 a.m., and the running events will commence around 1 p.m.
The Hogs are sending their sprinters, jumpers and throwers to the event, while the distance competitors get a week off to prepare for the John McDonnell Invitational in Fayetteville next weekend.
Other teams scheduled to be on hand at the John Jacobs Invitational are host Oklahoma, Kansas, Manhattan College, Nebraska, Oklahoma State, Oral Roberts, TCU, UT-Arlington, Tulsa and Wyoming.
The Razorback are coming off a successful trip to Texas last weekend, winning the 4 x 1,500 meter at the Texas Relays in Austin.
The Hogs secured victory in the event for the 10th straight time, and, in the process, managed to notch seven regional-qualifying times.
Arkansas will now send participants to the regional in these events: javelin, long jump (2), triple jump, 4 x 100M (2) and pole vault.
Another Razorback, James Strang, earned an NCAA-qualifying time at the Stanford Invitational in the 10,000-meter run.
An unfortunate drop
Despite putting together an excellent team effort at the Texas Relays, not everything went according to plan for the Hogs while in Austin.
During the distance medley relay, freshman Michael Chinchar took the baton and was off and running as the lead leg, but dropped the important instrument about 100 meters into the race, instigating a restart for the entire pack.
Once the field was reset, Chinchar did all he could to keep up with the lead pace, but eventually fell behind and struggled to make it to the hand off.
"Chinchar ran like a freshman," Arkansas head coach John McDonnell said. "Our other guys did all they could to get back in the race but the lead was too big. It was a slow pace and a slow time won the race."
The Razorbacks' final time was clocked at 10:01.77.
Balumbu makes debut
One Hog managed to start off his outdoor season in style in Austin.
Junior Nkosinza Balumbu leapt his way to a 52-2.75 finish in the triple jump, but it was only good enough to place 7th in a very demanding field.
However, it was the Union City, Calif., native's first regional qualifying mark of the season, and currently stands as the best in the Southeastern Conference at this point.
Balumbu, the two-time defending champion in the event in SEC outdoor competition, is coming off his third-straight win in the event in the SEC indoor season.
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