Cotton, Igbokwe auto-qualify to semifinals at USA Championships

DES MOINES, Iowa — In rainy and overcast conditions at Drake Field, Arkansas, both current and Pro Hogs, competed on the opening day of the USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships on the campus of Drake University.

Leading the day for Arkansas were All-Americans Obi Igbokwe and Kenzo Cotton, both advancing to their respective finals.

Igbokwe advanced to the semifinals of the 400-meters  posting a time of 45.95, the 11th-fastest on the day, from lane five to grab an auto-Q spot to the next round. Joining Igbokwe in the preliminary heat of the 400-meters was Arkansas alum Marqueze Washington. Washington finished 23rd at 47.60. Igbokwe will run in the semifinals of the 400-meters at 6:20 p.m. tomorrow night.

In the prelims of the 100-meters, Kenzo Cotton chose the easy route to the next round. Cotton grabbed his spot in the semifinal by way of the auto-Q running 10.13Q to finish third in his heat and 11th-overall. Cotton will return for semifinal action at 5:50 p.m. tomorrow.

Derek Jacobus wrapped up day one of the decathlon with a total of 3,874 and is currently in sixth-place through five events.

Jacobus posted marks of 11.02 in the 100-meters, 7.13m (23′-4.75″) in the long jump, 12.60m (41′-4.25″) in the shot put, 1.90m (6′-2.75″) in the high jump, and 49.96 in the 400-meters to close out day one action. Day two of the decathlon for Jacobus will begin at 11:30 a.m. tomorrow with the 110-meter hurdles.

Larry Donald posted a time of 51.93 in the first-round of the 400-meter hurdles finishing sixth in his heat, 22nd overall. Donald will return to the track for first-round action in the 110-meter hurdles Saturday at 2:35 p.m. CT.

At the Jamaican National Championships, Arkansas alum Clive Pullen and senior Kemar Mowatt competed in the triple jump and 400-meter hurdle prelims, respectively.

Pullen, competing for Puma, finished fourth in the triple jump with a best of 15.96m (52′-4.50″).

Mowatt, who finished second at last year’s Jamaican National Championships, qualified for the finals in the event with a time of 48.96Q that was second in his heat and the third-fastest time in the prelims. Mowatt will run in the finals of the 400-meter hurdles tomorrow night at 7:52 p.m.