Razorbacks close regular season with five Top 10 efforts

FAYETTEVILLE — No. 5 Arkansas closed out its regular season collecting five NCAA top-10 performances at the Arkansas Qualifier and UCS Invitational on Friday evening in Fayetteville and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, respectively.

Iowa Central transfer Jah-Nhai Perinchief was the first Razorback to post an improved mark, clearing an indoor PR of 2.22m/7-3¼ in the high jump to win the event.

His jump moved him up to No. 9 on the NCAA leader boards and tied him for No. 8 on Arkansas’ all-time bests list.

Perinchief went back to work a couple hours later in the triple jump, marking an indoor PR of 16.00m/52-6 to debut on the NCAA triple jump list at No. 13.

Away from the field, junior Rhayko Schwartz shined on the track, winning the 400-meter dash off an indoor PR of 46.08.

With that time Schwartz joins teammate Obi Igbokwe inside the NCAA 400-meter top-10 list, tied for 10th with Steven Champlin of Texas Tech. His performance is the eighth-fastest in program history.

Taking a break from his signature quarter-mile, Igbokwe raced to a second-place finish in the 200, clocking an indoor PR of 20.69.

Senior Kenzo Cotton finished right behind Igbokwe, placing third in the event in a season best of 20.72. Igbokwe and Cotton now rank sixth and seventh, respectively, in the NCAA.

In addition to Perinchief and Schwartz, Arkansas had five more event winners on the night, three of whom produced program top-10 all-time best performances including: Larry Donald (60-meter hurdles, 7.81, No. 5), Kris Hari (60 meters, 6.71, No. 4) and Sam Kempka (Shot Put, 58-0 1/4, No.6).

Events Winner(s):
• Kris Hari, 60 Meters: 6.71
• Rhayko Schwartz, 400 Meters: 46.08
• Kieran Taylor, 800 Meters: 1:50.84
• Larry Donald, 60 Meter Hurdles: 7.81
• Jah-Nhai Perinchief, High Jump: 2.22m/7-3¼
• Sam Kempka, Shot Put: 17.68m/58-0¼
• Erich Sullins, Weight Throw: 19.35m/63-6

UCS Invitational
Arkansas distance medley relay team of Cameron Griffith, John Winn, Ethan Moehn and Jack Bruce placed fifth in the event at the UCS Invitational, running a season best of 9:39.42. That performance ranks the Hogs seventh in the NCAA and at No. 2 among Southeastern Conference teams.

Arkansas will return to action next weekend in College Station, Texas, on a mission to defend its league title at the 2018 Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships. The Razorbacks are the co-winningest indoor program in the conference (shared with Tennessee), having captured 25 titles since 1992.

Arkansas Qualifier
February 16, 2018
Randal Tyson Track Center (Fayetteville, Ark.)

60 Meters Prelims
2. Kris Hari – 6.77

60 Meters Finals
1. Kris Hari – 6.71

200 Meters
2. Obi Igbokwe – 20.69 (No. 5)
3. Kenzo Cotton – 20.72
4. Roy Ejiakuekwu – 20.89

400 Meters
1. Rhayko Schwartz – 46.08
4. Kemar Mowatt – 46.35 (PR)
7. Jamarco Stephen – 47.68
12. Travius Chambers – 48.44
13. Hunter Woodhall – 48.78

800 Meters
1. Kieran Taylor – 1:50.84
2. Kyle Hosting – 1:51.02
3. Chase Pareti – 1:51.76
4. Reese Walters – 1:52.61
6. Colin O’Mara – 1:57.12

60 Meter Hurdles Prelims
1. Larry Donald – 7.82
2. Gabe Moore – 8.08
6. Travius Chambers – 8.36

60 Meter Hurdles Finals
1. Larry Donald – 7.81 (No. 5 in program history)
6. Travius Chambers – 8.83

High Jump
1. Jah-Nhai Perinchief – 2.22m/7-3¼
2. Brendon Rivera – 2.07m/6-9½

Pole Vault
3. Gabe Moore – 4.45m/14-7¼
4. Brandon Stokes – 4.45m/14-7¼

Long Jump
2. Harrison Schrage – 7.46m/24-5¾
4. Trae Carey – 6.31m/20-8½

Triple Jump
2. Jah-Nhai Perinchief – 16.00m/52-6
3. Rubin Owens – 15.78m/51-9¼
4. Laquan Nairn – 15.64m/51-3¾

Shot Put
1. Sam Kempka – 17.68m/58-0¼

Weight Throw
1. Erich Sullins – 19.35m/63-6