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Murphy places 37th at USATF Cross Country Championships

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Arkansas freshman Ryan Murphy placed 37th at the 2018 USATF Cross Country Championships in Tallahassee, Florida, on Friday, finishing the race with a time of 32:43.30.

Murphy was one of two collegiate athletes in the race, along with Richmond’s Miles Clikeman, who finished 35th.

A cross country and track and field team captain at Linn-Mar high school in Marion, Iowa, Murphy was in contention for a spot on Team USA’s North American, Central America and Caribbean Cross Country Championships team, but just missed the top-25 finish required to be eligible for contention.

Murphy utilized a redshirt his first season as a Razorback last fall, but earned a pair of state title in the 1,600 and 3,200 meters in 2016 prior to coming to Arkansas.

Murphy is a former New Balance All-American in the 5K off a top-three finish and a three-time All-State cross country honoree.

Arkansas opens spring season at TPC Sawgrass

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas opens its spring campaign on Monday morning, traveling to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, to compete in the Sea Best Invitational at Dye’s Valley Course at TPC Sawgrass.

The 15-team field is the first of six regular season spring tournaments for the Razorbacks, who posted a victory, two runner-up finishes and three top-five performances during the fall season with a 45-11 head-to-head record.

Arkansas enters its championship season ranked No. 20 in the country by Golfstat and No. 25 by Golfweek.

Arkansas returns to the Sea Best Invitation for the third straight year after finishing fourth in the event a year ago.

Nearly half the field is ranked among the top 30 teams in the nation, with four of those programs coming from the Southeastern Conference.

The 6,873-yard par 70 Dye’s Valley Course will feature 36 holes on Monday, Feb. 5, before closing out play with the final round on Tuesday, Feb. 6.

Monday’s shotgun start will begin at 7 a.m. Live scoring is available at Golfstat.com or via the Golfstat Live app.

The Razorbacks enter the spring with a perfect blend of veteran experience and young talent.

Alvaro Ortiz is the lone senior of the team and is coming off his second straight runner-up finish at the Latin America Amateur Championship two weeks ago after posting a fall stroke average of 69.8, good for second on the team and the No. 2 position in the lineup.

Mason Overstreet enters his second collegiate championship season in the No. 1 position after recording his first victory in the fall at the Jerry Pate Intercollegiate.

He posted a blistering 69.2 stroke average in five fall events with four top 20 finishes, including three top 10 performances.

Overstreet made national headlines on the amateur tour in December as well, playing in the prestigious Patriot All-America Invitational and torching a loaded field by six shots.

Sophomores William Buhl (71.5) and Luis Garza (72.6) will occupy the third and fourth positions in the lineup, while mid-year transfer Tyson Reeder will make his Razorback debut in the No. 5 spot after spending his first two seasons at Oklahoma State.

Freshman Landon Ernst will compete in the event as an individual after seeing action in two tournaments during the fall season.

The Razorbacks have been one of the most consistent teams in the country during the last decade, as coach Brad McMakin has led Arkansas to 10 consecutive NCAA Regional bids and five NCAA National Championship appearances.

The Rundown
Schedule: Feb. 5-6 | 36 holes on Monday, 18 on Tuesday
Course: Dye’s Valley Course | Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.
Yardage: 6,873 – Par 71
Format: Play 5, count 4
Last Year’s Champion: Florida (-4)

Razorback Lineup
1. Mason Overstreet, So. (69.2)
2. Alvaro Ortiz, Sr. (69.8)
3. William Buhl, So. (71.5)
4. Luis Garza, So. (72.6)
5. Tyson Reeder, R-So.
IND. Landon Ernst, Fr. (72.8)

The Field
No. 20 Arkansas
Campbell
No. 23 Duke
East Carolina
No. 7 Florida
Jacksonville
Liberty
Lipscomb
No. 11 LSU
No. 24 North Carolina
No. 27 North Florida
South Florida
No. 28 Tennessee
USC Upstate
Winthrop

Arkansas to play in Armed Forces Classic in El Paso

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas will participate in one of the unique events in college basketball next year, opening the 2018-19 season on Nov. 9 in the Armed Forces Classic at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas.

Arkansas will renew a storied rivalry in the game, taking on the Texas Longhorns for the 155th time in program history.

The annual event, now in its seventh year, will take place on the United States mainland for the first time since its inception in 2012.

“We are honored to participate in the Armed Forces Classic next year,” said head coach Mike Anderson. “Any chance we get to honor our service men and women by playing at a military base is a great opportunity to give back to people that sacrifice so much for our freedom.”

The game will be televised on ESPN as part of the network’s America’s Heroes: A Salute to Our Veterans initiative honoring the men and women who are serving and who have served in the United States military, both at home and abroad.

“In the continued spirit of honoring our men and women in uniform and their families we are excited to bring the Armed Forces Classic to Fort Bliss in El Paso,” said Clint Overby, vice president of ESPN Events. “We are looking forward to being on the base and having an opportunity to say “thank you” in person and stage what should be an outstanding basketball game.”

The Razorbacks and Longhorns have a storied history that started in 1924 as Southwest Conference rivals and the two teams played for 68 consecutive seasons until Arkansas entered the Southeastern Conference in 1991-92.

The Razorbacks lead the all-time series 86-67, including a victory last season at the Toyota Center in Houston as part of the Lone Star Shootout.

Smith named to SEC football leadership council

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Arkansas junior defensive lineman T.J. Smith will represent the Razorbacks on the SEC Football Leadership Council, which convenes at the league office Friday and Saturday.

The Football Leadership Council consists of one football student-athlete from each of the SEC’s 14 institutions and is one of three components of the SEC Student-Athlete Leadership Council.

The other two consist of representatives on the Men’s and Women’s Basketball Leadership Councils.

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey introduced new Student-Athlete Leadership Councils in 2016 for the sports of football and men’s and women’s basketball which, in addition to the conference’s longstanding Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC), provide student-athletes with additional opportunities to engage with campus leaders and conference office staff.

The councils serve as a conduit of communication to the conference office on issues related to student-athlete experience and student-athlete wellness.

Among the agenda items for the group this weekend is a review of NCAA and SEC legislative items, open discussion on topics submitted by members of the Council, and engagement with football officials on rules of the game and student-athlete/referee interaction.

Marcus Spears, SEC Network analyst and former SEC football student-athlete, will also meet with the group to discuss leadership and career development.

Recent legislation passed by representatives from Autonomy Conferences that increased the allowance provided to student-athletes who serve as hosts for visiting recruits was initially proposed by the SEC Football Student-Athlete Leadership Council last year.

A native of Moultrie, Georgia, Smith started all 12 games last season, recording 26 tackles, 4.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks and one fumble forced.

In addition to Smith, the student-athletes who comprise the SEC Football Leadership Council are: Josh Casher (Alabama), Derrick Brown (Auburn); Jeremiah Moon (Florida), Charlie Woerner (Georgia), Jordan Griffin (Kentucky), Blake Ferguson (LSU), Javon Patterson (Ole Miss), Gerri Green (Mississippi State), Damarea Crockett (Missouri), Bryson Allen-Williams (South Carolina), Micah Abernathy (Tennessee), Braden Mann (Texas A&M), Khari Blasingame (Vanderbilt), and Brandon Lee (Missouri – Autonomy Representative).

Speed gives Hogs vault title, but team falls to Bama

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Senior Braie Speed secured the vault title as 8th-ranked Arkansas fell to No. 10 Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Friday night, 197.000-196.350.

“We were a little off tonight as far as some of our landings,” said coach Mark Cook. “We did a decent job, but we didn’t maximize our potential tonight. We’ve got to do a little better on the road, but the girls had a lot of focus and a lot of energy and we competed pretty hard here.”

First Rotation: Arkansas Bars: 49.075, Alabama Vault: 48.950

Arkansas led by a slight margin over the Crimson Tide after the first rotation. The Razorbacks got four scores over 9.800, with freshman Sydney Laird leading the way with a 9.850. Senior Braie Speed and freshman Sarah Shaffer were just behind Laird, each tallying a 9.825. Sophomore Hailey Garner got the solid score in the anchor spot that Arkansas needed to take the lead, recording a 9.800.

Second Rotation: Alabama Bars: 49.325, Arkansas Vault: 48.825

Competing just five athletes on vault, Arkansas fell behind in the second rotation by a score of 98.275-97.900. Speed and Wellick led all Razorbacks with scores of 9.850 and 9.800, respectively. Junior Sydney McGlone was Arkansas third best scorer, recording a 9.775 in the third spot in the rotation. Speed’s score gave her a share of the event title with Alabama’s Nickie Guerrero.

Third Rotation: Arkansas Floor: 49.325, Alabama Beam: 49.325

Arkansas got solid scores from its entire lineup on floor, including a 9.900 from Shaffer. Sophomores Hailey Garner and Jessica Yamzon were right behind Shaffer with scores of 9.875 each. Arkansas was unable to gain ground on the Crimson Tide, as each team matched event scores of 49.325 on its apparatus.

Fourth Rotation: Alabama Floor: 49.400, Arkansas Beam: 49.125

Shaffer led Arkansas with a 9.900 on beam, while Yamzon and Carter recorded scores of 9.825. Wellick recorded a 9.800 and Burton tallied a 9.775 to round out Arkansas’ scoring in the final rotation.

Sarah Shaffer won the all-around with a score of 39.350 while Yamzon recorded a 39.150.

Up Next

The Razorbacks return home next Friday for another Southeastern Conference showdown against the Auburn Tigers inside Barnhill Arena.

The meet is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

Jacobus strengthens national pole vault lead in Texas meet

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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LUBBOCK, Texas — Competing in Lubbock at Texas Tech’s brand new Sports Performance Center, No. 1 Arkansas kicked off the two-day Texas Tech Open with three event wins and strong marks in the field.

The highlight of the day came in the pole vault as junior Lexi Jacobus strengthened her national lead by 1¼ inches with an indoor personal best clearance of 4.64m/15-2¾.

Event Winners:
• 60 Meters – Payton Chadwick, 7.34
• Long Jump – Taliyah Brooks, 6.37m/20-10¾
• Pole Vault – Lexi Jacobus, 4.64m/15-2¾

Pole Vault Power

The Arkansas pole vault crew dominated its competition for the fourth-consecutive week, with Razorbacks sweeping first through fifth place.

It was the second-consecutive victory for Jacobus and her third top-two finish of the season.

All-American vaulters Tori Hoggard and Desiree Freier, placed second and third, respectively, both improving upon their season bests.

Hoggard moved up to No. 3 in the NCAA with a clearance of 4.54m/14-10¾, while Freier moved up to No. 5 with a clearance of 4.39m/14-4¾.

Morgan Hartsell and Rylee Robinson, rounded out the group finishing in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Elsewhere in the field redshirt senior Taliyah Brooks captured the long jump title with a season best mark of 6.37m/20-10¾, improving her national standing in the event from 10th in the NCAA to fifth.

The top combined events performer in the country among college competitors, Brooks now ranks inside the NCAA top-five in three events: 60-meter hurdles, long jump and pentathlon.

On the Track

Springdale native Payton Chadwick carried the banner for Arkansas on the track, placing first in the 60-meter dash with a PR of 7.34. Her performance moved her up to fifth in program history.

Along with Chadwick, four other Razorbacks qualified for the finals and finished among the top-eight best in the field including Kiara Parker (7.43, third), Taliyah Brooks (7.44, fourth), Tamara Kuykendall (7.47, fifth) and Janeek Brown (7.50, seventh).

Events To Watch (Saturday):
• 400 Meters | 12:15 p.m. on Texas Tech TV (subscription required)
Featured Razorback: Payton Chadwick (PR: 53.42)

• Millrose Games Mile | 4:27 p.m. CT on NBC
Featured Razorback: Nikki Hltz (PR: 4:34.57)

Texas Tech Open
February 2, 2018
Sports Performance Center (Lubbock, Texas)

60 Meters Prelims
1. Payton Chadwick – 7.37
2. Kiara Parker – 7.42
3. Taliyah Brooks – 7.42
7. Tamara Kuykendall – 7.56
8. Janeek Brown – 7.59
19. Morgan Burks-Magee – 7.73

60 Meters Finals
1. Payton Chadwick – 7.34
3. Kiara Parker – 7.43
4. Taliyah Brooks – 7.44
5. Tamara Kuykendall – 7.47
7. Janeek Brown – 7.50

Pole Vault
1. Lexi Jacobus – 4.64m/15-2¾
2. Tori Hoggard – 4.54m/14-10¾
3. Desiree Freier – 4.39m/14-4¾
4. Morgan Hartsell – 3.99m/13-1
5. Rylee Robinson – 3.99m/13-1
7. Ellie Ramos-Mata – 3.84m/12-7¼

Long Jump
1. Taliyah Brooks – 6.37m/20-10¾

Oparenovic’s paces Hogs’ victory over Sooners on Friday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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NORMAN, Okla. — Behind a top-15 win from junior Ana Oparenovic and a three-set match-clinching victory from sophomore Giulia Pairone, Arkansas rallied past Oklahoma 4-3 on Friday at the Headington Family Tennis Center.

With the team score tied 3-3, Pairone cruised to a 6-0 victory in the third set at No. 3 singles to take the match, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-0 and clinch the team’s win.

“We had a lot of people come back tonight from some tough positions, both in singles and doubles,” head coach Michael Hegarty said. “It really was a great total team effort.”

The Razorbacks (2-2) won the doubles point for the fourth straight match this season and picked up three singles victories to top the Sooners (1-4).

Oklahoma’s Skyler Miller and Malene Stripp struck first in doubles, winning 6-3 at No. 3, but Arkansas won the final two matches to claim the opening point. The Razorbacks got a 6-4 win from Pairone and senior Mia Jurasic at No. 2 and then earned a 7-5 victory from Oparenovic and freshman Tatum Rice at the top spot.

In singles, the Sooners leveled the match with a win at No. 6 from Miller. But the Razorbacks quickly found the lead again when Oparenovic delivered a 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 win at the top spot over No. 14 ranked Lily Miyazaki and Rice won a three-setter at No. 5 against Stripp.

The Sooners pulled even with wins at No. 4 and then No. 2, but Pairone, who is now 4-0 on the season, sealed the overall team win for the Razorbacks.

Up Next
Arkansas will play Oklahoma State (4-1) at 3:30 p.m. Sunday in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Arkansas 4, Oklahoma 3

Singles Competition
1. Ana Oparenovic (AR) def. No. 14 Lily Miyazaki (OU) 4-6, 6-1, 6-1
2. Jasmine Asghar (OU) def. Mia Jurasic (AR) 6-1, 6-7 (1-7), 6-2
3. Giulia Pairone (AR) def. Christiana Brigante (OU) 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-0
4. Camila Romero (OU) def. Natsuho Arakawa (AR) 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
5. Tatum Rice (AR) def. Malene Stripp (OU) 7-5, 1-6, 6-1
6. Skyler Miller (OU) def. Peyton Jennings (AR) 6-1, 7-5

Doubles Competition
1. Ana Oparenovic/Tatum Rice (AR) def. Jasmine Asghar/Lily Miyazaki (OU) 7-5
2. Mia Jurasic/Giulia Pairone (AR) def. Christiana Brigante/Simran Kaur Sethi (OU) 6-4
3. Skyler Miller/Malene Stripp (OU) def. Peyton Jennings/Natsuho Arakawa (AR) 6-3

Match Notes
Order of finish: Doubles (3,2,1); Singles (6,1,5,4,2,3)

KNWA VIDEO: Neighbors looking at Alabama matchup

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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VIDEO FROM KNWA

Arkansas coach Mike Neighbors met with the media Friday afternoon to talk about Sunday’s matchup on the road against Alabama.

Arkansas hosts tripleheader Saturday against Wichita State, St. Louis

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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FAYETTEVILLE — Looking to get back in the win column, Arkansas hosts a tripleheader on Saturday at the Billingsley Tennis Center, as the Razorbacks face Wichita State at 10 a.m., followed by a doubleheader with Saint Louis.

Less than a month into the 2018 season, the Razorbacks hold a 2-3 record, after splitting a pair of matches at the ITA Kickoff Weekend in Athens, Georgia, against the Memphis Tigers and Iowa Hawkeyes.

After falling 4-3 to the Tigers, Arkansas bounced back in the consolation match against the Hawkeyes, coming from behind to win 4-3, after picking up victories on the final two courts to overtake Iowa.

Senior Jose Salazar leads Arkansas with a 4-1 mark at the top singles spot this spring, as freshman Josh Howard-Tripp follows with a 3-2 record at the No. 4 spot.

The pair lead the Razorbacks with a 3-2 mark in doubles action at the No. 2 spot.

The Razorbacks hold the advantage over Wichita State with a 12-1 mark over the Shockers, last meeting in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament, where the Razorbacks picked up their first win in the tournament in 10 years, defeating WSU 4-2 to advance to the round of 32.

Arkansas holds a 7-1 record against Saint Louis, including a 6-1 win last season at home.

Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Bud Light Morning Rush Podcast: Friday

Morning Rush Hour 3

ESPN Arkansas News Services
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Morning Rush Hour 3

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