Boit runs through field to pace Hogs to third-place SEC finish

FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ men’s track and field team put together a third-place overall finish at the 2019 SEC Outdoor Championships on Saturday night at John McDonnell Field.

The Razorbacks posted 91 points as a unit and marked back-to-back years to earn a third-place score.

The finish of the 5,000-meter run brought the packed house at John McDonnell Field to its feet, as junior Gilbert Boit won the individual title with a time of 13:54.76.

Coming down the final straightaway, Boit split teammate Cameron Griffith and Alabama’s Gilbert Kigen on the track and crossed the finish line in first to complete the indoor/outdoor conference 5,000-meter run sweep.

Griffith and sophomore Matt Young finished third and fourth, respectively, with times of 13:55.05 and 13:57.97. Arkansas totaled 21 points from the 5,000-meter race.

Earlier in the evening, Griffith posted a second-place finish in the 1,500-meter run at 3:48.81 to earn eight points. It marks back-to-back years he’s taken the silver medal in the event, running 3:47.02 last year, and the third consecutive year to score in the run.

The 4×100-meter relay kicked things off on the track and took home bronze behind a season-best 39.26. The quartet of Josh Oglesby, Rashad Boyd, Kris Hari & Roy Ejiakuewku moved up to No. 6 among NCAA West qualifying times heading into the weekend while earning six points toward the team standings.

John Winn, Hunter Woodhall, Jalen Brown and Rhayko Schwartz comprised the 4×400-meter relay, which also finished third and posted a time of 3:03.53. The squad’s time was a season-best and moved Arkansas up to fifth among relay qualifying teams in the West Region.

Sophomore Hunter Woodhall brought home fourth in the 400-meter dash at 46.22, a personal-best, giving him five points. It’s the fastest by a Razorback this season in the event and puts him at 18th among West qualifiers this season.

Later, fellow sophomore Kieran Taylor also notched a fourth-place mark in the 800-meter run with a time of 1:48.34 for another five-spot.

Junior Laquan Nairn posted a fifth-place finish in the triple jump in the afternoon portion of the day. He made the final of the event with a leap of 15.25m (50-0.5) on his third attempt, putting him in eighth.

After moving down to ninth before the final round of jumps, Nairn landed in the pit at 15.68m (51-5.5) with his final mark to take fifth and pick up four points for the team.

In the 110-meter hurdles, senior Shakiel Chattoo clocked a PR and a sixth-place time at 13.71 to earn three points for the squad. His time propels him up to No. 5 in the NCAA West heading into the weekend competition.

unior Travean Caldwell took eighth in the 400-meter hurdles at 50.86 to add another point for the Razorbacks.

Postseason track & field continues with a trip to Sacramento, California, for the NCAA West Preliminary Championships on May 23-25.

Discus Throw
9^th – Erich Sullins – 51.05m (167-6)

Triple Jump
5^th – Laquan Nairn – 15.68m (51-5.5) PB

4×100-Meter Relay
3rd – Josh Oglesby, Rashad Boyd, Kris Hari, Roy Ejiakuekwu – 39.26 SB

1,500-Meter Run
2nd – Cameron Griffith – 3:48.81
12th – Ethan Moehn – 3:56.23

110-Meter Hurdles
6th – Shakiel Chattoo – 13.71 PB
9th – Carl Elliott III – 13.83

400-Meter Dash
4th – Hunter Woodhall – 46.22 PB

800-Meter Run
4th – Kieran Taylor – 1:48.34

400-Meter Hurdles
8th – Travean Caldwell – 50.86

5,000-Meter Run
1st – Gilbert Boit – 13:54.46
3rd – Cameron Griffith – 13:55.05
4th – Matt Young – 13:57.97
10th – Austen Dalquist – 14:18.76
11th – Colin O’Mara – 14:21.03
17th – Kyle Levermore – 14:34.62
31st – Preston Cates – 14:50.62
32nd – Ethan Moehn – 14:52.52

4×400-Meter Relay
3rd – John Winn, Hunter Woodhall, Jalen Brown, Rhayko Schwartz – 3:03.53 SB