FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas is opening a cross country season without John McDonnell as its head coach for the first time in 35 years.

So while today’s 7 p. m. dual meet at the Agri Park Course between the Razorbacks and Missouri Southern is a low-key event, it’s also the debut of new Arkansas Coach Chris Bucknam.

“Having our first meet is another step along the way,” Bucknam said. “I’m looking forward to getting these firsts out of the way... I get more comfortable each week.”

Bucknam, 52, was hired at Arkansas on June 27 after being Northern Iowa’s head coach for men’s cross country and track and field since 1984 and adding the same duties for the women’s teams in 1997.

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During his 25-year stay at Northern Iowa, he coached 35 conference championship teams. Now he’s taking over for the legendary McDonnell, who coached the Razorbacks to 88 conference titles and 42 national championships.

McDonnell, 70, announced in April he was retiring.

“We obviously all have mixed feelings because we’re losing Coach Mac, who is kind of like a grandfather to us, and we’re getting a new guy that none of us knew anything about,” said Arkansas senior Scott MacPherson, the top returnee from last season who took ninth at the SEC Cross Country Championships. “But so far everyone is pretty happy. [Bucknam ] comes in with the same hopes we’ve got — to keep winning.”

MacPherson said the Razorbacks noticed a difference in Bucknam during a recent training session at the intramural fields.

“We were running and he asked, ‘OK, how are you guys feeling ?’” MacPherson said. “We were like, ‘Coach Mac never asked me how we were feeling. It was, go faster, go harder.’”

Bucknam said he’s still getting to know his runners, and learning what buttons to push to bring out their best.

“I don’t want to break anybody the first week,” he said with a laugh. “I’m being a little cautious.”

Along with MacPherson, other key runners for the Razorbacks figure to be seniors James Strang and Alex and Andy McClary, junior Daniel LaCava and sophomores Lane Boyer, Duncan Phillips and Michael Chinchar.

Junior Dorian Ulrey, who finished second in the 1, 500 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June for Northern Iowa, has transferred to Arkansas, but he won’t begin competing until the indoor track season.

“I think the transition has gone really good as far as [building ] our relationships,” Bucknam said. “They’re track guys, no different than the kids at Northern Iowa. They’re dedicated athletes and they enjoy what they’re doing.”

Arkansas’ women’s cross country team also is opening its season at 6: 30 p. m. today with a dual meet against Missouri Southern. It’s the start of Lance Harter’s 19 th year as Arkansas ’ coach.

Harter has a veteran team returning from last year’s SEC championships, including seniors Christine Kalmer, Denise Bargiachi and Dacia Perkins, and sophomore Jillian Rose.

“We’ve got a great combination of leadership, experience and depth,” Harter said. “For the first time I can remember, a freshman will have a very tough time trying to make our top seven.”

Bucknam faces a different challenge with MacPherson being the only returnee among the Razorbacks’ top five runners last year.

Bucknam and the Razorbacks have the added pressure of continuing Arkansas’ streak of conference cross country championships, which is at 34 years.

“It is a lot of pressure, and the SEC has gotten stronger, so it’s not getting any easier,” MacPherson said. “But I think we’re equal to the task.

“ It’s a new year with a new team, and we’ve got a new coach. It’s like a whole new era for Razorback cross country, so it’s pretty exciting.”

Bucknam said he’s excited to get the season started and begin seeing how his team reacts in competition.

“We’re still young into the season,” he said. “ But it will be good to get some uniforms on some guys and run through the paces a little bit.