FAYETTEVILLE -- Arkansas Coach Chris Bucknam said it's tough to name his team's top runner going into today's SEC Cross Country Championships in College Station, Texas.
"Pick a race," Bucknam said. "I mean, seriously."
SEC CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
WHEN Men’s 8,000-meter race at 10 a.m. today followed by women’s 6,000-meter race at 11 a.m.
WHERE Dale Watts Cross Country Course, College Station, Texas
DEFENDING MEN’S CHAMPION Arkansas
DEFENDING WOMEN’S CHAMPION Arkansas
NATIONALLY-RANKED TEAMS No. 8 Arkansas men; No. 4 Arkansas No. 13 Mississippi State
women
DELAYED TELECAST 11:30 a.m. Central time Nov. 8 SEC Network
Junior Frankline Tonui was the top finisher for the No. 8-ranked Razorbacks at the Iona Meet of Champions while sophomore Alex George was their top finisher at the Chile Pepper Racing Festival in Fayetteville and sophomore Austin Dalquist was their top finisher at the Pre-National Meet in Louisville.
George has the SEC's fastest time in the 8,000 meters -- today's race distance -- at 23:35.68 with Tonui second [23:38.24] Dalquist third [23:38.70], Arkansas junior Christian Heymsfield fourth [23:38.87] and senior Gabe Gonzalez sixth [24:04.20].
Bucknam said this is probably the deepest team in his eight years at Arkansas going through the 10-man roster for today's race.
"Kind of a coach's dream in regards to having such good, talented kids," he said. "I couldn't tell you who will be the first to cross the finish line for us -- just as long as there's a lot of them close together.
"I feel really good about the team. They're extremely dedicated and focused. I love how they prepare and how they compete."
Arkansas is going for its fifth consecutive SEC tittle and 23rd in 25 years since joining the conference.
"There's nothing like an SEC championship," Bucknam said. "It's history, and it'll go in the books if we can do it."
Sports on 10/30/2015