FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas leads the SEC and ranks 15th of 106 teams in the country in the latest Learfield Sports Directors Cup standings released Thursday.
The Razorbacks, with 171 points, are the only SEC program in the top 30. The standings reflect points given only for men’s and women’s cross country and soccer, women’s field hockey and men’s water polo. Arkansas notched 75 points for the fifth place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships by Coach Lance Harter’s women’s team and 46 points for the 28th place finish by Coach Coach Chris Bucknam’s men’s team.
Coach Colby Hale’s women’s soccer team scored 50 points for advancing to the second round of the NCAA tournament.
“We’re first in the SEC and we’re excited,” Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long said. “That’s one of the many things I love about Arkansas. We get to compete in more than just football and men’s basketball. Our teams are out there at a high level.
“The fact that we have a strong history of finishing in the top 25, with only 19 sports, really is a testament to our total program here.”
Arkansas has been in the top 30 nationally six times in the last seven years. The Razorbacks finished 28th in the standings last year and were fourth among programs with 19 or fewer sports.