FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2012 – MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: Zach Lawson (zlawson@uark.edu)

 

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Six wins highlight Arkansas Twilight

 

            FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – In its final home meet of the 2012 season, the No. 11 University of Arkansas men’s track and field team racked up six wins and 19 personal and season bests Friday during the Arkansas Twilight at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks had wins from Akheem Gauntlett at 200 meters, Duncan Phillips at 800 meters, Caleb Cross in the 400-meter hurdles, Andrew Irwin in the pole vault, Justin Holmes in the discus and the 4x100-meter relay team.

            “We made a big step today,” head coach Chris Bucknam said. “The day set up perfectly for us with the weather and facility. Those kind of numbers don’t lie. We had some outstanding performances. I think guys are starting to get dialed in to what is going to happen over the next few weeks. It was the perfect meet at the perfect time for us.”

            Cross had a career day, becoming Arkansas’ sixth-fastest runner in the 400-meter hurdles (50.43) and tying the seventh-best mark in the 100-meter hurdles (13.71). Gauntlett won the 200 meters in 20.45, good for the eighth-best time in program history. Neil Braddy, runner-up at 400 meters, posted a time of 46.03 which is No. 7 in school history. Holmes already had the fourth-best throw in school history and added to it with his effort.

            Arkansas’ first win of the day came from a personal-best effort from Holmes in the discus. The Razorback senior won the competition with a throw of 53.76m/176-4, adding 16 feet to his previous season best and more than two feet to his previous career best. Irwin was the team’s second field winner with his showing in the pole vault. He secured the victory with a final clearance of 5.45m/17-10.5.

            The 4x100-meter relay team of Cross, Gauntlett, Braddy and Ben Skidmore opened action on the track with a win in 39.59, more than a second faster than its nearest competition. Arkansas’ final win Friday came from Phillips at 800 meters. With a late charge over the final 100 meters, the Razorback senior posted a personal-best time of 1:49.25.

Friday’s Arkansas’ Twilight was the final meet before the start of the championship season. The Razorbacks travel to Baton Rouge, La., May 10-13 for the SEC Championships. Arkansas’ regional qualifiers will then compete May 24-26 at the NCAA West Preliminary in Austin, Texas. The 2012 collegiate season comes to a close June 6-9 with the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

 

Friday Results

 

200 Meters

1. Akheem Gauntlett – 20.45 (PR)

5. Neil Braddy – 20.90 (PR)

 

400 Meters

2. Neil Braddy – 46.03 (PR)

3. Ben Skidmore – 46.50 (PR)

5. Travis Southard – 46.88

16. Auston Chen – 50.37 (PR)

 

800 Meters

1. Duncan Phillips – 1:49.25 (PR)

16. Drew Butler – 1:56.01

 

1,500 Meters

12. Scott Gillespie – 3:51.18

 

110m Hurdles (final)

3. Caleb Cross – 13.71 (PR)

7. Kyle Dunn – 14.30

 

110m Hurdles (prelims)

2. Caleb Cross – 13.74q

7. Kyle Dunn – 14.15q (PR)

11. Terry Prentice – 14.28 (PR)

14. Andrew Pennington – 14.38 (SB)

16. Gunnar Nixon – 14.60 (PR)

18. Kevin Lazas – 15.13 (PR)

 

400m Hurdles

1. Caleb Cross – 50.43 (PR)

3. Kyle Dunn – 51.28

5. Hunter Bourke – 51.95 (PR)

6. Andrew Pennington – 52.44

 

4x100m Relay

1. Cross/Gauntlett/Braddy/Niit – 39.59

 

High Jump

3. Dwayne Golbek – 2.15m/7-0.5 (PR)

 

Pole Vault

1. Andrew Irwin – 5.45m/17-10.5

6. Kevin Lazas – 4.85m/15-11

16. Gunnar Nixon – 4.40m/14-5.25

17. Terry Prentice – 4.10m/13-5.25

 

Long Jump

4. Nii Ayi – 7.55m/24-9.25 (PR)

 

Triple Jump

5. Phillip Butler – 14.26m/46-9.5

 

Shot Put

7. Marlon Dwyer – 14.05m/46-1.25

 

Discus

1. Justin Holmes – 53.76m/176-4 (PR)

8. Auston Chen – 46.18m/151-6 (PR)

11. Kevin Lazas – 40.86m/134-1 (SB)

13. Terry Prentice – 38.02m/124-9

14. Gunnar Nixon – 37.36m/122-7

 

Javelin

5. Luke Laird – 61.95m/203-3

6. Jeff Woods – 61.48m/201-8

 

-- ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks --