Arkansas Track Sends Loaded, Balanced Group to NCAA Championships

By Taylor Hodges
Arkansas sophomore Scottie Vines is one of 21 Razorbacks headed to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. | Arkansas Communications
Arkansas sophomore Scottie Vines is one of 21 Razorbacks headed to the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore. | Arkansas Communications

Arkansas is headed to Eugene with a full roster and a real chance to make noise.

The Razorbacks pushed 18 athletes through the NCAA West First Rounds at John McDonnell Field, earning 21 entries across 12 events for next month’s NCAA Championships at Hayward Field.

It was the kind of qualifying weekend that shows why this program keeps finding itself in the national title conversation.

The sprints set the tone early. Jelani Watkins and Tevijon Williams advanced in both the 100 and 200, plus the 4×100 relay. Watkins ran a smooth 10.03 in the 100, and Williams followed with a career-best 10.16 that now ranks No. 11 in school history. Karabo Letebele added a 10.14 to move on as well. In the 200, Watkins posted the second-fastest time of the day at 20.16, and Williams dropped another PR at 20.33. Dapriest Hogans advanced on time with a 20.59.

The 4×100 relay looked like a group ready for Eugene. Letebele, Williams, Hogans, and Watkins combined for a 38.56, the top time of the meet.

The hurdles were just as productive. Abdoul Sy-Savane, Jerome Campbell, and Karamoko Sacko all advanced in the 110s, with Sy-Savane running a career-best 13.27 that now sits No. 3 on Arkansas’ all-time list.

Arkansas kept stacking qualifiers in the 400 and 800. Jordan Pierre and TJ Tomlyanovich both advanced in the 400, with Pierre winning his section in 44.81 and Tomlyanovich running a career-best 45.11. In the 800, Rivaldo Marshall and Tyrice Taylor moved on again after going 1-2 at NCAA Indoors. Taylor’s 1:44.35 was the fastest time of the day and ranks No. 8 on the all-time collegiate list.

Distance runners did their part too. Brian Masai won his 1,500 section. Ben Shearer won his 5,000 section, and Ernest Cheruiyot finished fourth to advance. Cheruiyot will also run the 10,000 in Eugene.

In the field, Scottie Vines led all high jump qualifiers at 7-2.5, clearing four straight bars without a miss.

The night wrapped with another strong relay. Tomlyanovich, Devyn Wright, Zander Cruzan, and Pierre ran 3:01.25 in the 4×400, the second-fastest time of the meet behind Texas A&M.

Taken together, it was the kind of weekend that shows why Arkansas keeps separating itself from most of the country. This isn’t a program relying on one superstar or one event group. It’s a roster built to score everywhere, built to travel deep into June, and built to contend every year.

The Razorbacks aren’t just sending a big group to Eugene. They’re sending a balanced one, a confident one, and one that looks a lot like the teams that win trophies.

This is what a top-tier program looks like. And Arkansas is very much acting like one.

Razorbacks Advancing to Eugene

  • 100m: Jelani Watkins, Karabo Letebele, Tevijon Williams
  • 200m: Jelani Watkins, Tevijon Williams, Dapriest Hogans
  • 400m: Jordan Pierre, TJ Tomlyanovich
  • 800m: Tyrice Taylor, Rivaldo Marshall
  • 1,500m: Brian Masai
  • 5,000m: Ben Shearer, Ernest Cheruiyot
  • 10,000m: Ernest Cheruiyot
  • 110m: H Abdoul Sy-Savane, Jerome Campbell, Karamoko Sacko
  • 4 x 100m: Karabo Letebele, Tevijon Williams, Dapriest Hogans, Jelani Watkins
  • 4 x 400m: TJ Tomlyanovich, Devyn Wright, Zander Cruzan, Jordan Pierre
  • High Jump: Scottie Vines
  • Long Jump: Juriad Hughes
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2026 Razorback Football

Sat, Sep 5vs North AlabamaW 31-14
Sat, Sep 12@ UtahL, 43-10
Sat, Sep 19GeorgiaL, 45-17
Sat, Sep 26TulsaW 34-6
Sat, Oct 3@ Texas A&ML, 34-7
Sat, Oct 10TennesseeL, 24-17
Sat, Oct 17@ Vanderbilt6:00 PM
ESPN2
Sat, Oct 31vs MissouriTBA
Sat, Nov 7@ AuburnTBA
Sat, Nov 14South CarolinaTBA
Sat, Nov 21@ TexasTBA
Sat, Nov 28vs LSUTBA
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2026 High School Standings

OVERALLRecordPts
1.Shiloh Christian (11)6-01631
2.Conway (3)5-11413
3.Bentonville West (3)6-01302
4.Bentonville5-11194
5.Joe T. Robinson6-01025
6.Searcy6-0816
7.North Little Rock5-1587
8.Springdale Har-Ber4-2358
9.Sheridan6-0269
10.Greenwood4-22410
Others receiving votes: Bryant 15, LR Christian 10, Sylvan Hills 8, Fayetteville 5, Stuttgart 5, Mountain Home 4, Pulaski Academy 3, Farmington 2, Van Buren 2, Benton 1, Jacksonville 1.
CLASS 7A
1.Shiloh Christian (11)6-0771
2.Conway (3)5-1583
3.Bentonville West (3)6-0542
4.Bentonville5-1454
5.North Little Rock5-1125
Others receiving votes: Springdale Har-Ber 6, Bryant 2, LR Christian 1.
CLASS 6A
1.Searcy (16)6-0831
3.Sheridan (1)6-0573
4.Sylvan Hills4-233—
2.Benton3-3292
5.Mountain Home5-1285
Others receiving votes: Van Buren 14, El Dorado 10, Lake Hamilton 1.
CLASS 5A
1.Joe T. Robinson (16)6-0841
2.Greenwood (1)4-2612
3.Farmington6-0453
4.Jacksonville5-1414
5.Little Rock Parkview4-2185
Others receiving votes: Little Rock Mills 4, Greenbrier 1, Hot Springs Lakeside 1.
CLASS 4A
1.Stuttgart (13)6-0781
2.Nashville (2)6-0662
3.Gosnell (1)6-0433
4.Ozark (1)6-0324
5.Elkins5-1215
Others receiving votes: Gravette 7, Fountain Lake 3, Forrest City 2, Lonoke 1, Booneville 1, Arkadelphia 1.

CLASS 3A
1.Bismarck (10)5-1721
3.Mansfield (2)5-2553
2.Smackover5-139—
4.Walnut Ridge (3)5-1244t
Rivercrest5-122—
Others receiving votes: Atkins 17, Newport (1) 11, Fordyce (1) 11, Prescott 4.
CLASS 2A
1.Mount Ida (10)7-0721
2.Baptist Prep (6)6-0682
3.Marked Tree5-1343
4.Earle (1)5-128—
5.Gurdon4-2245
Others receiving votes: Bearden 14, Dierks 10, Bigelow 7, East Poinsett Co. 1.
8-MAN SANCTIONED
1.Corning (9)6-0311t
2.Cedar Ridge (3)5-0241t
3.Magazine (1)5-0183
Others receiving votes: Izard County 4, Rose Bud 1.

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