10k yields 10 points for Hogs on opening day at SEC meet

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — On the opening day of the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships, No. 8 Arkansas handled business, qualifying four athletes through to the finals as well as scoring 10-points in the men’s 10K and three in the javelin throw.

The Razorbacks are currently in fourth-place with 13-points.

“I saw a great team effort today,” said coach Chris Bucknam.

“I saw some great efforts by all of our kids, the only mishap on the day was Travius Chambers having a little trouble negotiating hurdle seven in the 400-hurdles, I thought he had a great shot at quaifying for the final. I thought our kids performed well and were dialed in today. Hats off to the 10K guys that stuck around and ran a grueling 10K race in the heat and humid conditions. Alex Springer finishing sixth in the javelin was a huge performance after entering the meet ranked No. 10 in the conference and going out there and battling for important points. Across the board we’re really pleased with how our kids came out and battled today, picked up some points, and got the ball rolling for us.”

Gabe Moore and Derek Jacobus accounted for the majority of the action for Arkansas on day one as the duo kicked off the meet with the first half of the decathlon.

Moore sprinted to a personal-best in the 100-meters crossing the line in 10.69 seconds, well under his previous best of 10.96 from last year’s NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.

Jacobus followed Moore across the line breaking the plane in 10.88 seconds.

The second event in the decathlon saw Jacobus and Moore finish second and third, respectively, with marks of 7.35m (24′-1.50″) and 7.20m (23′-7.50″) in the long jump.

Jacobus posted a personal-best in the shot put finishing with a best of 12.96m (42′-6.25″) in fifth-place, while Moore took third with his best of 14.23m (46′-8.25″).

Event four of the competition featured identical marks by the pair as each cleared a best of 1.91m (6′-3.25″) in the high jump.

Only 400-meters stood between Moore and Jacobus and the end of day one in the decathlon. Moore took second in the one-lap race stopping the clock at 49.33, while Jacobus was close behind with his time of 50.20.

Moore is currently in second-place trailing the leader by 96-points with his day one total of 4,104.

Jacobus is currently in fourth-place trailing the leader by 221 points sporting a total of 3,979-points after five events.

Though it was the last event of the day, the event that yielded the most points Friday was the men’s 10,000-meters where the Razorbacks racked up 10-points with a 5-6-7-8 finish.

Gilbert Boit (29:48.24), Austen Dalquist (29:53.31), Matt Young (30:05.09), and Ryan Murphy (30:10.68) rounded out the scoring in the event for Arkansas while Andrew Ronoh finished ninth in 30:30.96.

Alex Springer collected points for the Razorbacks in the men’s javelin with a best of 65.18m (213′-10″) that he posted on his final attempt in the event. The sixth-place finish added three points to the team total.

Kenzo Cotton and Obi Igbokwe punched tickets to the final in the men’s 200-meters, each recording a time of 20.52.

Cotton earned an Auto-Q spot in the final by winning his heat, while Igbokwe advanced to the final on time finishing with the second-best at-large time in prelims that was also a personal-best in the event.

Moving up to the 400-meter intermediate hurdles, Kemar Mowatt, the defending SEC champion in the event, secured his spot in the final taking the opening heat of prelims running the second-fastest time on the day at 51.03.

Mowatt glanced over his shoulder throughout the last 50-meters checking on teammate Larry Donald who finished runner-up in the prelim to Mowatt posting a time of 51.18 – the fourth-fastest time from prelims.

Arkansas will return to Tom Black Track at LaPorte Stadium for day two of the SEC Outdoor Championships with the first event for the Razorbacks slated for 11 a.m. in the decathlon 110-meter hurdles.

For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.

SEC Outdoor Championships
Friday Results

Men’s Decathlon 100-meters 
3. Gabe Moore – 10.69
4. Derek Jacobus – 10.88

Men’s Decathlon Long Jump
2. Derek Jacobus – 7.35m (24′-1.50″)
3. Gabe Moore – 7.20m (23′-7.50″)

Men’s Decathlon Shot Put
3. Gabe Moore – 14.23m (46′-8.25″)
5. Derek Jacobus – 12.96m (42′-6.25″)

Men’s Decathlon High Jump
3. Derek Jacobus – 1.91m (6′-3.25″)
3. Gabe Moore – 1.91m (6′-3.25″)

Men’s Decathlon 400-meters
2. Gabe Moore – 49.33
4. Derek Jacobus – 50.20

Men’s Javelin
6. Alex Springer – 65.18m (213′-10″)

Men’s Hammer
16. Erich Sullins – 60.60m (198′-10″)

Men’s 800-meters
19. Kieran Taylor – 1:53.76

Men’s 200-meters
3. Kenzo Cotton – 20.52Q
7. Obi Igbokwe – 20.52q
13. Roy Ejiakuekwu – 20.87
18. Kevin Harris – 21.08

Men’s 400-meter hurdles
2.Kemar Mowatt – 51.03Q
5. Larry Donald – 51.18Q

Men’s 10,000-meters
5. Gilbert Boit – 29:48.24
6. Austen Dalquist – 29:53.31
7. Matt Young – 30:05.09
8. Ryan Murphy – 30:10.68
9. Andrew Ronoh – 30:30.96