Shawn Price January 22, 2021
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Another team victory for the Razorbacks during the Wooo Pig Classic on Friday featured a school record by freshman thrower Ruben Banks and a sub-four-minute mile by Amon Kemboi at Randal Tyson Track Center.
Arkansas totaled 113 points to top a field of national caliber teams which included Southern California (84), Kentucky (81.5), Texas (60.5), LSU (54), Missouri (24), and Oklahoma State (6).
“We’re not really putting a line-up together to score maximum amount of points,” said Arkansas men’s coach Chris Bucknam. “It’s everyone’s second meet of the season, and everybody is kind of doing the same thing we are. We’re feeling out where kids are best at and not over doing it. It’s been a long time since we competed.
Oklahoma finished as team runner-up with 104 points, followed by Arkansas State (95) and Central Arkansas (54).
In seeing the Razorbacks compete for the first time in over 10 months, Arkansas head coach Chris Buckman was satisfied with the performance.
“It was huge getting back into competition,” said Bucknam. “Even the week leading up to this was different. I was pleased with some of the performances we had.
“It was a very good meet for us. Anytime you win a meet that’s great. We’ve got a longways to go, but certainly we jumped into the deep end and everything is good.”
A spirited race among the Razorbacks occurred in the 1,000m as Amon Kemboi delivered a winning time of 2:23.49 with Kieran Taylor runner-up in 2:23.98, the fifth and sixth best times ever among marks in the Arkansas Invitational.