Fourteen of 23 athletes from the University of Arkansas men's track and field team advanced to the next round of competition Wednesday on the first day of the NCAA West First Round meet in College Station, Texas.
Four Razorbacks qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships from June 11-14 in Eugene, Ore. The rest of the 14 will compete again Friday, aiming to finish in the top 12 in their events and punch their tickets to Eugene. Razorbacks in the triple jump, high jump, 5,000 meters and 3,000-meter steeplechase will also compete Friday.
In the long jump, three of Arkansas' five entrants advanced to the championships by finishing in the top 12. Uroy Ryan placed seventh with a mark of 25 feet, 8 inches; Juriad Hughes Jr. finished ninth at 25-4; and Henry Kiner was 12th at 24-11 3/4.
Timothy Chesondin was the final qualifier in the 10,000, placing 12th in 28 minutes, 23 seconds. It was a fast race, with the top 15 finishers all coming in under the previous facility record of 28:55.56 set in 2021. Ishmael Kipkurui of New Mexico won in 28:09.32 and is now the record-holder at E.B. Cushing Stadium.
Arkansas competed in six other first-round events and qualified athletes to Friday's next round in all but one of them. None of the trio of TJ Caldwell, Karamoko Sacko and Brevin Sims advanced in the 110 hurdles.
Davis Helmerich and Reuben Reina will run in the 1,500 on Friday. Helmerich, the SEC champion in the event, finished fifth in 3:35.17 to finish top-five in his heat and advance. Reuben Reina was sixth in 3:45.24, qualifying on time. Brian Masai did not advance.
Jordan Anthony, Connor Washington and Tevijon Williams each qualified in both the 100 and 200.
In the 100, Anthony (10.08) and Washington (10.19) finished first and second in their heat. Anthony had the fastest overall time, while Washington was third. Williams qualified by placing second in his heat in 10.38.
In the 200, all three Razorbacks ran in separate heats. Anthony, who holds the second-fastest time among collegians this season, and Washington each won their sections in 20.50. Williams was third in his heat to advance in 20.74.
Three of the Razorbacks' six runners in the 400 advanced. Jaden Smith was the top finisher among the Arkansas contingent, finishing second in his heat in 46.01. Steven McElroy qualified on time in 46.20, while TJ Tomlyanovich's 46.49 put him third in his heat to advance. Zyaire Nuriddin, Jonah Vigil and Brandon Battle did not qualify.
In the 800, both Rivaldo Marshall (1:47.62) and Tyrice Taylor (1:48.20) won their heats to advance to Friday. Marshall was initially disqualified after officials ruled he "flagrantly impeded" another runner, but after a protest, the disqualification was overturned and he advanced.
The women's team will compete Thursday, when Razorbacks in three events can qualify for Eugene and the rest will run to advance to the next round Saturday.
Two athletes from Arkansas State qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Championships as well. Noa Isaia placed ninth in the hammer throw at with a toss of 216 feet, 5 inches. Bradley Jelmert cleared 17 feet, 9 1/4 inches in the pole vault to finish ninth. Colby Eddowes, who is qualified to complete in the decathlon in Eugene, advanced to compete Friday in the 110-meter hurdles after placing second in his heat in 13.60.
Carly Pujol and Michelle Ogbemudia will represent the Red Wolves in the women's pole vault and shot put, respectively, on Thursday.