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Hogs planning return to natural grass for 2019 season

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Hogs planning return to natural grass for 2019 season

According to a report at WholeHogSports.com, Arkansas will replace its worn artificial surface with grass for the 2019 season at Razorback Stadium.

In the report from Tom Murphy:

Razorbacks Athletic Director Hunter Yurachek said in Hoover, Ala., the decision has been made to install real grass when the 2018 season comes to an end.

The life cycle for the turf was 10 years and it was put in for the 2009 season because then-coach Bobby Petrino wanted it for his offense.

Back in the spring, Chad Morris had made it clear what his preference was.

“Worrying about what the next surface out here looks like is irrelevant to me,” he said on March 3. “I just want to get through a practice and get better today. But I prefer, I’m a natural grass type of guy. I love being on a grass field. There’s nothing better than that in college football, or football period.”

He admitted it was a hint of nostalgia that might be traced back to his high school coaching roots.

“That’s just me,” he said. “Maybe that’s just the high school coach in me.”

Baylark tops Campbell-Brown’s 100-meter mark at NCAA Prelims

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Veronica Campbell-Brown’s record stood for 12 years before Jada Baylark tied it this season and Friday night that record was no more as the sophomore blazed the track during the quarterfinal of the 100-meters at the NCAA West Prelim in Hornet Stadium.

Coach Lance Harter:

“Jada’s race was absolutely fantastic. Anytime you can rewrite the record book, especially at the University of Arkansas, because of the legacy that we have established there aren’t any weak marks anymore. The school record she broke was at the time the fastest women in the world. Anytime you can rewrite Veronica Campbell-Brown you’re in pretty special and elite company, it was a remarkable run. [Baylark] has put herself as a major player at the national championships.We squeezed a PR out of Rylee Robinson in the pole vault and got three of the five we brought to prelims through to Eugene with her and Lexi and Tori. Collectively, we’re having a fantastic meet, we’re super excited!”

In what was the most outstanding performance for Arkansas on Friday night was the run by Jada Baylark in the quarterfinals of the 100-meters.

Baylark finished with a wind-legal time of 11.04Q (+1.1) seconds that broke the tie she held with Veronica Campbell-Brown’s time of 11.10 from 2004. Baylark’s time was the fastest in the west region and would’ve been tied for the sixth-fastest time in the nation heading into this weekend.

Baylark will look to shave more time in the event when she takes the track in Eugene for semifinal action in the 100-meters.

#PoleVaultU was on display for Arkansas as the Razorbacks advanced an NCAA-best three vaulters through to the national championships as Lexi Jacobus, Tori Hoggard, and Rylee Robinson all cleared 4.18m (13?-8.50?) to secure spots in Eugene.

The final NCAA qualifier on Friday was Devin Clark in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase. Clark held strong from start to finish as the sophomore recorded a time of 9:53.06Q grabbing an auto-Q spot to Eugene by finishing in the top-three of her section.

True-freshman Janeek Brown will get another shot at the 100-meter hurdles as she easily advanced in the event with her time of 13.09Q.

Baylark, who had success in the 100-meters, also advanced to the quarterfinals of the 200-meters running 23.23Q and will be accompanied by teammate Kiara Parker who clocked 23.41Q grabbing an auto-Q to the next round.

Arkansas will return to Hornet Stadium Saturday afternoon where the Razorbacks will compete in every event on the track including both relay events.

NCAA West Preliminary
Friday Results

Women’s 100-Meter Hurdles
8. Janeek Brown – 13.09Q

Women’s 400-Meters
20. Morgan Burks-Magee – 53.58

Women’s 100-Meters
1. Jada Baylark – 11.04Q – Advanced to NCAA’s (school record)
13. Kiara Parker – 11.32

Women’s 200-Meters
12. Jada Baylark – 23.23Q
15. Kiara Parker – 23.41Q

Women’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
6. Devin Clark – 9:53.06Q – Advanced to NCAA’s
17. Rachel Nichwitz – 10:09.65
19. Regan Hime – 10:11.41

Women’s Pole Vault
1. Tori Hoggard – 4.18m (13?-8.50?) – Advanced to NCAA’s
1. Lexi Jacobus -4.18m (13?-8.50?) – Advanced to NCAA’s
8. Rylee Robinson -4.18m (13?-8.50?) – Advanced to NCAA’s
22. Elizabeth Ramos-Mata – 3.93m (12?-10.75?)
32. Morgan Hartsell – 3.78m (12?-4.75?)

Cotton, Mowatt, Igbokwe advance to NCAA Championships

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Three Razorbacks punched their tickets to Eugene on Friday afternoon at Hornet Stadium as Arkansas continues to compete at the NCAA West Prelims.

Coach Christ Bucknam:

“There were no big surprises for us today. I think our expectations of the kids we thought could get to the final rounds in Eugene did it. Kemar [Mowatt] looked great in the 400-meter hurdles, Larry Donald advanced to the quarterfinals in the 110-meter hurdles, Kenzo [Cotton] qualified for Oregon in the 100-meters, and then Kenzo and Roy [Ejiakuekwu] made it through to the quarterfinals in the 200-meters. I think Kyle Hosting was gonna give it a good run in the 3K steeple. Right there at the end with 500-meters to go he was right in the lead group with five of the best steeplers in that heat and just took a hard fall with a lap and a half to go which knocked him out of contention. I feel bad for him because he really had an outstanding season. There’s still one day of work, so we need to continue to keep our foot on the accelerator, we can’t let up. Nothing is easy, nothing is given so we need to be dialed in tomorrow and find a way to continue to have success.”

Arkansas had three NCAA qualifiers on the day in three events. The first to punch their ticket to Eugene of the three was Obi Igbokwe in the 400-meters.

Igbokwe booked his return trip to Eugene in the event running a time of 45.61Q to win his heat and finish with the fourth-fastest time of the day in the event.

The very next event on the track, the 100-meters, featured the second national qualifier on day two as Kenzo Cotton punched his ticket in auto-Q fashion finishing third in his heat running 10.25Q.

Kemar Mowatt rounded out the NCAA qualifiers on Friday for the Razorbacks as the senior easily advanced in the 400-meter hurdles.

Mowatt coasted to a heat-winning time of 49.33Q in the event to make a return trip to Eugene where he finished as the national runner-up last season en route to his fourth-place finish at the end of the summer over in England at the World Championships in London.

Larry Donald grabbed the final spot in the quarterfinals of the 110-meter hurdles running 14.25q, while teammates Cotton and Ejiakuekwu passed through to the quarterfinal of the 200-meters running times of 20.54Q and 21.07Q, respectively.

Arkansas will wrap up action at the NCAA West Preliminary tomorrow afternoon where the Razorbacks will be represented in every event except the men’s shot put.

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

NCAA West Preliminary
Friday Results

Men’s 110-Meter Hurdles
24. Larry Donald – 14.25q

Men’s 400-Meters
4. Obi Igbokwe – 45.61Q – Qualified for NCAA’s

Men’s 100-Meters
5. Kenzo Cotton – 10.25Q – Qualified for NCAA’s

Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles
2. Kemar Mowatt – 49.33Q – Qualified for NCAA’s
20. Larry Donald – 51.84

Men’s 200-Meters
3. Kenzo Cotton – 20.54Q
16.. Roy Ejiakuekwu – 21.07Q

Men’s 3,000-Meter Steeplechase
30. Kyle Hosting – 8:57.51

Men’s Discus
30. Erich Sullins – 51.14m (167?-9?)

Strong front nine boosts Hogs at NCAA Championships

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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STILLWATER, Okla. — A solid back nine in round one of the 2018 NCAA Championship was a much-needed boost for Arkansas at Karsten Creek Golf Club on Friday.

The Razorbacks were scheduled for a 7 a.m. start from hole No. 10 but heavy rain and lightning forced a delay. The first tee time came at 9:20 a.m. but players were called off the course after a second wave of bad weather moved through. The total delay was 3:28.

Arkansas opened its day on the back nine of the course and turned 13-over. Temperatures continued to rise throughout the round climbing from the mid-60s to the mid-80s as Arkansas made the turn.

The Razorbacks played the second side 5-under par thanks to 3-under 33’s by Alvaro Ortiz and William Buhl.

The Razorbacks finished the day 8-over shooting 296. Ortiz and Buhl both shot even par 72s. Ortiz turned plus-3 but carded an eagle on the par-5 No. 1 hole, the 10th hole of his afternoon. He added a birdie on No. 5 to finish even.

Buhl also turned 3-over after counting three consecutive bogeys on his seventh, eighth and ninth holes. Buhl birdied the first hole on the front side of the course. He added birdies on No. 3 and No. 9. Buhl was one of three Razorbacks to birdie the final hole of the day.

Mason Overstreet and Luis Garza also counted rounds on Friday with both players shooting 4-over 76s. Tyson Reeder rounded out the Razorback scores with a 5-over 77. Overstreet and Garza finished strong birding the 18th hole of the day.

Play was suspended for the night around 7:30 p.m. with half of the field, 15 teams, still on the course. The Razorbacks finished tied for 11th overall against the 15 teams who had completed their rounds. Play is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning at 7 a.m. for the completion of round one. Round two will begin at 8 a.m.

The Lineup

PLACE PLAYER SCORE TO PAR
– Alvaro Ortiz (1) 72 E
– Wiliam Buhl (2) 72 E
– Mason Overstreet (3) 76 +4
– Luis Garza (5) 76 +4
– Tyson Reeder (4) 77 +5

*Places will be determined after the conclusion of the round.

From Coach Brad McMakin

“It wasn’t ideal (starting and stopping play) but I’m glad we got to play with the weather the way it was. The players, they get in a rhythm and then stop and have to get back in that rhythm again. There is nothing you can do about that, so you just have to help them stay focused. The last nine holes of SECs and the last nine holes of Regionals are two of the most exciting rounds I’ve ever coached. We did that a bit today. We got out to a slow start, but we played the back nine five-under. We have to get out to a little bit better start the rest of the week.”

Hogs blow past top-seeded Gators for 8-2 victory

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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VIDEO FROM ESPN SEC NETWORK
HOOVER, Ala. — No. 4 seed Arkansas defeated No. 1 seed Florida 8-2 to clinch a semifinal berth in the SEC baseball tournament.

Arkansas freshman Casey Martin continued his SEC tournament hot streak, launching a two-run shot in the second to put the Razorbacks in front. Martin hit two home runs in Wednesday’s game against South Carolina.

With one out and two runners on base in the third, Florida’s Nelson Maldonado knocked the ball into center field, where Dominic Fletcher made a diving catch and then showed off his arm by throwing out the runner at third to end the inning.

Fletcher delivered at the plate too, extending the Hogs’ lead in the sixth with an RBI single. Razorbacks senior Jared Gates also hit a single in the sixth to tack on another run.

The Gators’ first run came from a sixth-inning home run by SEC Player of the Year Jonathan India, his 17th homer of the season. UF’s Austin Langworthy cut the Razorbacks’ lead to 4-2 with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly.

With Florida looking to rally, Razorbacks LHP Matt Cronin struck out Brady Smith to strand the Gators’ two tying runs.

Hunter Wilson blasted a grand slam in the top of the ninth to add some insurance for the Razorbacks. With Auburn’s Edouard Julien and South Carolina’s LT Tolbert hitting grand slams on Wednesday, this marks the first time in SEC tournament history with three grand slams in the same year.

Arkansas starter Blaine Knight improved to 10-0 on the season. The right-hander threw four strikeouts across six innings, allowing just one run and four hits.

UP NEXT: The Razorbacks advanced to Saturday’s second semifinal game. The Gators face No. 8 seed LSU in an elimination game tonight at approximately 7:30 p.m. ET on SEC Network.

Hogs fall to top-ranked Sooners in first game at Super Regional

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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NORMAN, Okla. — Arkansas dropped a 7-2 decision to two-time defending national champion Oklahoma in game one of the Norman Super Regional.

Freshman Hannah McEwen extended her school record with her 57th RBI of the season.

With the setback, the Razorbacks are now 42-16 on the season. Friday’s game marked the program’s first-ever Super Regional appearance.

Up Next

The two teams return to Marita Hynes Field Saturday afternoon for the second game of the best-two-of-three series. First pitch is scheduled for noon with the game being televised on ESPN.

The Razorbacks put together the first scoring opportunity of the game with an early threat in the top of the first.

McEwen reached on a throwing error and with one down, junior Ashley Diaz dropped a single into shallow right to give Arkansas runners on first and second.

However, Oklahoma starter Paige Lowary got out of the jam with a strikeout and ground ball to second.

After a scoreless opening frame for both teams, the Sooners plated two runs in the bottom of the second and added three more in the third including back-to-back solo shots to lead off the inning.

Coach Courtney Deifel turned to sophomore Autumn Storms out of the bullpen after the second home run. Storms allowed three runs — one earned — on three hits during her three innings of relief Friday.

Trailing 5-0 after four, Arkansas broke through with a run in the top of the fifth frame. Freshman catcher Kayla Green led off the inning with a single to right and after Haydi Bugarin was hit by a pitch, the Razorbacks had runners on first and second with no outs.

Pinch runner Sydney Parr moved up to third on a fly out by McEwen and came in to score on an RBI grounder off the bat of senior Autumn Buczek.

Arkansas’ defense surrendered a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the fifth and Oklahoma (54-3) pushed its advantage to 7-1.

Neither team scored in the sixth with sophomore Caroline Hedgcock turning in a scoreless relief appearances.

Down to its final three outs, Arkansas got on the board again with a two-out tally thanks to an RBI double by McEwen by brought Bugarin around from first to score.

Van Horn, Knight, Wilson, Martin after win over Gators

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Arkansas coach Dave Van Horn, pitcher Blaine Knight, infielder Hunter Wilson and third baseman Casey Martin talked with the media after the Hogs’ 8-2 win over Florida.

Salazar’s NCAA run ends in straight-set loss to UT’s Stodder

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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WINSTON SALEM, N.C. — Arkansas senior Jose Salazar completed individual competition at the NCAA Championships on Friday at the Wake Forest Tennis Complex.

The 18th-ranked All-American fell to Tennessee’s 16th-ranked Timo Stodder 6-1, 6-3 in the round of 16.

Salazar finished the season 26-11 overall with an 11-6 record against nationally ranked competition.

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

Baylark sprints to quarterfinals at NCAA West Preliminaries

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — It was a quick day one for Arkansas who had only seven athletes competing on the opening day of the NCAA West Preliminary on Thursday afternoon at Hornet Stadium.

Five of the seven athletes competing on day one advanced to the quarterfinals of their respective events.

“Jada [Baylark] and Kiara [Parker] did a good job to get through the round,” said coach Lance Harter. “Our freshman Morgan [Burks-Magee] did a great job to advance in the quarter as an automatic qualifier.

“Nikki ran a great race and obviously finished really really strong, we had to wait for the prelims to conclude to make sure that Carina [Viljoen] advanced and she did.

“Unfortunately, Taliyah [Brooks] isn’t going to advance in the long jump. She had two fouls and had to take a safe jump to make sure she got a mark, but it just wasn’t enough to advance to Eugene.”

The aforementioned Hiltz self-noted on social media earlier in the day that this week’s meet falls only six weeks after the senior had a procedure on her knee to improve an injury that kept her off the track for most of the outdoor season.

Nikki Hiltz on Twitter

I’m missing my week 6 post-op exam on my knee for this race I’ll just tell my doctor to get a @FloTrack subscription Hopefully that will suffice… #week6baybee #NCAATFwest #StemCellsfortheWin

Hiltz did not disappoint in the prelims of the 1,500-meters.

The senior ran strong up front from the sound of the gun and carried that momentum into the final 100-meters where Hiltz stormed past the field to lock up an auto-Q spot into the quarterfinal of the 1,500-meters with her time of 4:20.88.

Hiltz’s time was the third-fastest of the prelims and is a season-best time. Joining Hiltz in the quarterfinal will be Carina Viljoen who qualified on time running 4:21.64q, the 11th-fastest time of the day.

The 100-meter prelims were led by Arkansas’ Jada Baylark who posted the No. 1 time in the event running 11.22 seconds to earn an auto-Q spot in the quarterfinals.

Kiara Parker punched her ticket to the quarterfinal advancing on time after running 11.39q.

Morgan Burks-Magee will continue her season as the freshman advanced to the quarterfinal of the 400-meters running 53.77 and finishing in the top-three of her heat to lock up the auto-Q spot.

The Razorbacks will return to action tomorrow afternoon with athletes slated to compete in six of the eight events scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

NCAA West Preliminary
Thursday Results

Women’s 100-Meters
1. Jada Baylark – 11.22Q
14. Kiara Parker – 11.39q

Women’s 1,500-Meters
3. Nikki Hiltz – 4:20.88Q
11. Carina Viljoen – 4:21.64q
46. Maddy Reed – 4:38.65

Women’s 400-Meters
21. Morgan Burks-Magee – 53.77Q

Women’s Long Jump
38. Taliyah Brooks – 5.72m (18?-9.25?)

Schrage’s best jump ever qualifies for NCAA’s in Oregon

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Day one of the NCAA West Preliminary yielded the Razorbacks’ first NCAA qualifier in Harrison Schrage as well as multiple athletes advancing to the quarterfinal in their respective events Thursday afternoon at Hornet Stadium.

“Today was a good start to the meet,” said coach Chris Bucknam. “We wrapped up day one, but we have to continue to keep the foot on the accelerator and try to have another good day tomorrow.

“We got the ball rolling, we advanced the athletes that we expected to, and I was very pleased to see Harrison [Schrage] qualify for the NCAA meet in the long jump with a lifetime best.”

An NCAA finalist in the 400-meter hurdles in 2017, Kemar Mowatt passed another test on his quest to return to the national final as he advanced to the quarterfinal in the event securing an auto-Q spot with his 51.09.

Teammate Larry Donald will join Mowatt in the quarterfinal following his heat winning and lifetime-best time of 50.85 in the opening heat of the event.

Consummate All-American Kenzo Cotton advanced to the quarterfinal of the 100-meters running a brisk 10.21Q in the prelim winning his heat to grab an auto-Q spot.

Obi Igbokwe followed suit as he sprinted his way to an auto-Q spot in the 400-meters turning in the top performance in the event in prelims with his time of 45.49Q.

Igbokwe battled Iowa’s Mar’yea Harris down the final 100-meters before out leaning him at the line to win the heat and advance to the quarterfinal.

It took a lifetime-best performance in the men’s long jump by Harrison Schrage to secure a return trip to his home state of Oregon for the NCAA Championships in two weeks.

Schrage opened the competition with a pop off the board that would prove to be his best of the day, measuring in at 7.73m (25?-4.50?).

For the day, Arkansas advanced four athletes through to the quarterfinal of their respective events and punched one ticket to the NCAA meet in Eugene in two weeks at Historic Hayward Field.

NCAA West Preliminary
Thursday Results

Men’s 100-Meters
7. Kenzo Cotton – 10.21Q

Men’s 400-Meters
1. Obi Igbokwe – 45.49Q
33. Jamarco Stephen – 47.44

Men’s 400-Meter Hurdles
9. Larry Donald – 50.85Q
17. Kemar Mowatt – 51.09Q
32. Travius Chambers – 52.10

Men’s 1,500-Meters
36. Ethan Moehn – 4:00.01
39. Cameron Griffith – 4:01.78Q

Men’s 10,000-Meters
15. Gilbert Boit – 29:26.09
16. Austen Dalquist – 29:27.50
22. Matt Young – 29:37.55
32. Ryan Murphy – 30:07.20

Men’s Hammer Throw
26. Erich Sullins – 60.98m (200?-1?)

Men’s Long Jump
7. Harrison Schrage – 7.73m (25?-4.50?) – Qualified for NCAA’s
30. Laquan Narin – 7.23m (23?-8.75?)
44. Rubin Owens – 6.84m (22?-5.25?)

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