Arkansas pitcher Connor Noland is not new to playing football and baseball at the same time, he’s been doing it since he was seven years old and doesn’t see a difficult balancing act.
Kjerstad on being ready to get back on field again
Razorbacks outfielder Heston Kjerstad talked with the media Saturday morning on battling the boredom and how working against his own pitchers helps him playing in the field.
Sullins brings home weight throw title at first day of Razorback Invitational
FAYETTEVILLE — Erich Sullins turned in his second-straight win this season in the weight throw as Arkansas hosted day one of the Razorback Invitational Friday night at Randal Tyson Indoor Track.
Sullins, who rewrote his school record mark at the season opener, captured the event title for a second straight time this season finishing the day with a best of 20.07m (65-10.25).
Gabe Moore and Derek Jacobus got the day started with the opening events of the men’s heptathlon.
Moore currently leads the competition with a day one total of 3,399 points that includes a personal best of 15.53m (50-11.50) in the shot put.
| Gabe Moore Razorback Invitational Heptathlon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Event | Mark | Points |
| 60-meter | 6.97 | 893 |
| Long Jump | 23-9 | 871 |
| Shot Put | 50-11.50 | 822 |
| High Jump | 6-7 | 813 |
| 60-meter hurdles | — | — |
| Pole Vault | — | — |
| 1,000-meters | — | — |
| Point Total | 3,399 |
Jacobus is currently in third-place with his day one total of 3,105 points that includes a PR of 7.02 in the 60-meters.
| Derek Jacobus Razorback Invitational Heptathlon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Event | Mark | Points |
| 60-meter | 7.02 | 875 |
| Long Jump | 23-7.25 | 859 |
| Shot Put | 42-7 | 666 |
| High Jump | 6-2.25 | 705 |
| 60-meter hurdles | — | — |
| Pole Vault | — | — |
| 1,000-meters | — | — |
| Point Total | 3,105 |
Razorback senior Roy Ejiakuekw led the men’s squad in the 200-meters turning in a fourth-place performance running 21.14 in the one-lap race.
The men’s Distance Medley Relay of Ethan Moehn, Nick Hilson, Chase Pareti, and Matt Young combined to run 9:46.50 on the night finishing second. Arkansas’ time would’ve been led the nation entering this weekend.
Laquan Narin battled it out on the runway in the men’s long jump, finishing eighth with a best of 7.50m (24-7.25).
After day one of competition, Arkansas is currently tied for fourth place with 24 points through six events scored.
The Razorbacks return to Randal Tyson tomorrow morning as day two of the Razorback Invitational gets underway at 11:25 a.m with the men’s heptathlon.
Chadwick, Herman lead Hogs on first day of Razorback Invitational
FAYETTEVILLE — Kelsey Herman captured the pentathlon title and Payton Chadwick turned in the No. 2 time in program history in the 200-meters on the opening day of the Razorback Invitational at Randal Tyson Indoor Track Friday night.
Herman, a two-time All-American in the event, capped her opening pentathlon of the season with the title scoring over 4,100 points while clocking a near PR in the opening event of the competition (60-meter hurdles) falling short of the mark by one one-hundredth of a second (0.01).
| Kelsey Herman Razorback Invitational Pentathlon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Event | Mark | Points |
| 60-meter hurdles | 8.34 | 1,052 |
| High Jump | 5-8.75 | 916 |
| Shot Put | 38-9.75 | 650 |
| Long Jump | 19-6.25 | 834 |
| 800-meters | 2:29.78 | 696 |
| Point Total | 4,189 |
Freshman J’Alyiea Smith completed her first collegiate pentathlon finishing eight-overall in the competition while setting personal-best in every event minus the 60-meter hurdles.
| J’Alyiea Smith Razorback Invitational Pentathlon | ||
|---|---|---|
| Event | Mark | Points |
| 60-meter hurdles | 8.90 | 931 |
| High Jump | 5-8.75 | 916 |
| Shot Put | 22-10.50 | 333 |
| Long Jump | 17-6 | 651 |
| 800-meters | 2:29.53 | 699 |
| Point Total | 3,530 |
On the track for Arkansas, Payton Chadwick turned in the No. 2 fastest 200-meter sprint in program history breaking her tie with former Razorback great Talyor Ellis-Watson (22.99).
Chadwick finished second in her heat trailing Kentucky’s Abby Steiner who turned in an identical 22.97. The final result came down to a difference of four one-thousandths of a second as Steiner took the event in 22.965 over Chadwick’s 22.969.
Freshman Kethlin Campbell (23.42) and Tiana Wilson (23.67) set PR’s in the event while Kiara Parker (23.41), Jada Baylark (23.58), Janeek Brown (23.67), Tamara Kuykendall (24.40), and Morgan Burks-Magee (24.71) finished fourth, eighth, 10th, 19th, and 27th, respectively.
Senior All-American Lexi Jacobus captured her third-straight meet victory of 2019 clearing 4.51m (14-9.50) for the win. Tori Hoggard cleared an identical bar for a second-place finish while Desiree Freier (4.41m/14-5.50), Bailee McCorkle (4.01m/13-1.75), Rylee Robinson (3.91m/12-10), Morgan Hartsell (3.81m/12-6), Genna Potter (3.61m/11-10), Olivia Groeber (3.41m/11-2.25), and Parrish Kitto (3.41m/11-2.25) finished fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth, 12th, and tied for 13th, respectively.
After day one of competition, Arkansas leads the meet with 59.5 points through seven events scored.
The Razorbacks return to Randal Tyson tomorrow morning as day two of the Razorback Invitational gets underway at 11:25 a.m with the men’s heptathlon.
Hogs’ women down Louisiana-Monroe for second straight sweep
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas’ women’s tennis earned its second sweep in a row with a defeat of Lousiana-Monroe on Friday afternoon.
The Hogs split the first two sets in doubles play, with Martina Zerulo and Tatum Rice earning a 6-0 win at the No. 1 position. Lauren Alter and Laura Rijkers fell 6-2 to the Warhawks before Jackie Carr and Miruna Tudor clinched the point at the No. 3 position.
Singles play got off to a fast start, as Rice defeated Tiffany Phaysouphan 6-1, 6-1. Zerulo put the Razorbacks up 3-0 at the No. 1 position, earning a 6-3, 6-1 victory. Tudor clinched the match, giving Arkansas its fourth win of the season with a 6-0, 7-5 win.
The team played through the clinch, with Rijkers earning a third-set victory at the No. 4 position. Carr defeated Angeles Cuerto 6-1, 6-4 before Alter put the match away with a 7-5, 7-5 victory.
The Razorbacks will return to the court Sunday for a doubleheader against Pine Bluff. First serve is set for 11 a.m.
Can you play? Hogs holding walk-on tryouts February 26
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will be holding a one-day tryout for enrolled students on Tuesday, February 26 at the Fred W. Smith Football Center.
The tryout is only open to full-time students at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, campus.
Check-in and registration will be from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.
To participate in the tryout, you must have the following:
• University of Arkansas Walk-On Tryout Form
• University of Arkansas Tryout Medical Clearance Form filled out and completed by a physician (No other form will be accepted)
• Sickle Cell Test Results
• Proof of Insurance (if any) and a current copy of insurance card
Students WILL NOT be allowed to try out if the above forms are not complete and on file with the University of Arkansas Sports Medicine Staff prior to the tryout.
Tryout participants must have played football in high school or college (letter of recommendation from high school and/or college coach preferred) and must bring their own football workout apparel and equipment.
Please email the required documentation prior to the registration/check-in to Will Landreth, Assistant AD for Compliance: wlandre@uark.edu.
Hogs go back on road to face Red Raiders in Big 12-SEC Challenge
Who: #13 Texas Tech Red Raiders
What: Arkansas is playing in fifth Big 12/SEC Challenge
When: Saturday – Jan. 26, 2019 – 5 pm
Where: Bud Walton Arena – Fayetteville, Ark.
How (to follow):
• TV: SEC Network (Mike Morgan and Barry Booker)
• Watch ESPN Online
• Radio: ESPN Arkansas 95.3 in the River Valley, 104.3 in Harrison/Mountain Home and 96.3 in Hot Springs(Chuck Barrett and Matt Zimmerman)
• Satellite Radio: Arkansas Broadcast –XM (388), Internet (979)
• Live Stats: Texas Tech Live Stats
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas travels to Lubbock, Texas, to play in the Big 12/SEC Challenge against No. 13 Texas Tech on Saturday.
Tip-off is set for 5 pm and the game will be telecast on ESPN2.
In the 78 previous meetings with the Red Raiders, Arkansas and Texas Tech are all square at 39-39.
The last time the teams met, which was in the 2016 edition of the Big 12/SEC Challenge, the Razorbacks won, 75-68 in overtime. Arkansas has won five of the last six in the series with Texas Tech and 11 of the last 15.
Arkansas is playing in its fifth consecutive Big 12/SEC Challenge. The Razorbacks are 2-2 in the Big 12/SEC Challenge with wins over Texas Tech (2016) and Oklahoma State (2018). Arkansas lost at Iowa State (2015) and at Oklahoma State (2017).
• Arkansas’ current four-game stretch (Jan. 15-Jan. 26) is the toughest in the nation. Arkansas has already played two road games at nationally-ranked opponents (current No. 1 Tennessee and No. 20 Ole Miss). The Razorbacks now play at No. 13 Texas Tech. No other team in the nation will have played three road games versus top 25 teams over this same span.
• Taking it one step further, while LSU was not ranked at the time and counting Texas Tech, four of Arkansas’s last five opponents are currently ranked among the AP Top 25 (No. 25 LSU, No. 1 Tennessee, No. 20 Ole Miss and #13 Texas Tech).
• Arkansas is 2-4 in SEC play through six games and the Razorbacks were in a similar position last year to start the SEC slate. Like last year, the Razorbacks won their SEC opener before falling to 2-4. Arkansas rallied to finish the regular season with a 9-4 record, including a win in the Big 12/SEC Challenge. Arkansas won two games at the SEC Tournament to be one of a league-record eight teams to play in the NCAA Tourney.
• Isaiah Joe ranks seventh in the NCAA in 3-pointers made (3.78 per game) and leads all SEC freshmen in scoring (14.9 ppg), 3-pointers made and 3-point field goal percentage (.447) while ranking second among the league’s rookies in steals. Joe also leads all NCAA freshmen in 3-point field goal percentage while ranking second among NCAA freshmen in 3-pointers made.
• Jalen Harris had six assists and no turnovers versus Missouri, marking the fifth game this season he has not committed a turnover. He ranks fifth in the NCAA and first in the SEC in assist to turnover margin (3.87).
• Arkansas will return to Bud Walton Arena on Tuesday (Jan. 29) to host Georgia. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.
???? Friday Halftime Pod — featuring OmaHog Joe Serrano
Phil & Tye sit down with former Omahog Joe Serrano in studio and recap memories, plus the guys preview Arkansas-Texas Tech!
Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday
John & Tommy discuss the Big 12-SEC Challenge, discuss Dave Van Horn’s success, plus PickSooie joins the podcast to talk horse races!
Monk, Tolefree pace Razorbacks to 72-61 win over Alabama
FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas junior Alexis Tolefree started fast and senior Malica Monk finished strong leading the Razorback women’s basketball team to a 72-61 win over Alabama in Bud Walton Arena on Thursday.
Arkansas (15-5, 4-2 SEC) has won three in a row after a 39-point second half against the Crimson Tide (10-10, 2-5 SEC).
Tolefree came out of the gates firing, scoring nine of her 13 points in the first quarter. Monk finished with a team-high 16 points, 11 of which she scored in the second half.
The steady for Arkansas was the play of sophomore Taylah Thomas. Thomas tied her career-high with 15 points and had seven rebounds.
Arkansas jetted out to a 15-3 lead in the first quarter and seemed to be in control from the opening tip but Bama managed to rally and close within four points by the end of the first half.
The Razorbacks took a seven-point, 53-46, lead into the final frame, but Alabama kept hanging around through the first part of the period.
Arkansas stepped on the gas with a 13-2 run while holding the visitors to a 1-for-10 performance stretching the lead to as many as 17 with under a minute to play en route to the victory.
The Razorbacks travel to Florida (5-14, 1-5 SEC) on Sunday and return home hosting Georgia (12-7, 3-3 SEC) on Thursday.
Notes
• Arkansas Starters: Alexis Tolefree, Malica Monk, Kiara Williams, Jailyn Mason, Chelsea Dungee
• The Razorbacks have forced double figure turnovers by their opponent in every game this year.
• Arkansas has won the third quarter 11 times including a 20-17 advantage over Alabama.
• Arkansas has had more or the same number of 3-point field goals in 16 games this season but Alabama had the 10-8 advantage on Thursday.
• Malica Monk has scored in double figures in 16 games … Alexis Tolefree has been in double digits in 12 games … Taylah Thomas has scored double digits in four games.
• Arkansas has won the third quarter 11 times … the fourth quarter 16 times … and the second half 13 times this year.
Neighbors not comfortable until end against Crimson Tide
Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors talked about how Thursday night’s win over Alabama was one of those where he never felt good until very near the final buzzer in the 72-61 win.
