FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas assistant Doug Case, who coaches pole vaulters, was plenty happy when Andrew Irwin cleared his opening height of 17-1 1/2 Saturday at the John McDonnell Invitational.
Case became happier and happier as Irwin, a senior from Mount Ida who is a two-time NCAA champion and five-time All-American, cleared his first attempts at 18-0 1/2 and 18-6 1/2 before missing three attempts at 19-0 3/4, which would have been a school record.
Irwin's winning mark should be in the top 10 nationally when all of the weekend's results from around the country are tabulated, Case said.
Saturday was Irwin's first meet of the outdoor track and field season after he strained his left hamstring March 13 at the NCAA Indoor Championships. He still managed to take third -- clearing 18-0 1/2 -- to help the Razorbacks to a third-place finish in the team race.
What made Case so happy with Irwin's performance Saturday is that he looked to be recovered from his injury.
"For what we've done training-wise, Andrew had a great day," Case said. "He'd only done one day of what we call approach work -- where he has the pole in his hands -- since the NCAA Indoors more than three weeks ago.
"I was happy when he made the first bar, to tell you the truth. Then when he kept making bars, that was even better."
Case said he hadn't planned for Irwin to open at 17-8 1/2, but during warmups they agreed it was a good idea.
"We had great weather and his warmups looked really good, so we were like, 'Let's just open at this big bar,' " Case said. "Then he had no issues with the hamstring."
Razorbacks junior All-American and 2014 NCAA Indoor champion Jarrion Lawson won Friday night's long jump going 24-11 1/2.
Arkansas junior Marqueze had the top college mark in the 100 meters (10.39) and took second in the 200 (20.95) Saturday while freshman Kenzo Cotton took fourth in the 200 in a personal-best 20.98.
The Razorbacks' distance runners had the week off after running at Stanford last weekend, and two-time NCAA hurdles champion Omar McLeod didn't race because of a sore quadriceps muscle.
"I think we got some things accomplished," Arkansas Coach Chris Bucknam said. "We took some baby steps leading up the SEC meet. It's basically about getting on the track and getting the work in."
Irwin's performance was the highlight for Arkansas' men's team.
"He heals quick obviously," Bucknam said. "He's been an unbelievably consistent competitor for us.
"He definitely has a future professionally. For him, it's all about staying healthy."
Case said Irwin will take a week off from competition to focus on training, then plans to vault at the Drake Relays April 25 in Des Moines, Iowa.
"We're trying to get everything rolling again for Andrew and get all of his speed back," Case said. "But as far as a first meet goes, this couldn't have gone any better."
Sports on 04/12/2015