FAYETTEVILLE -- On the conference level, the Arkansas Razorbacks didn't need senior sprinter Marqueze Washington to win the SEC outdoor track and field championships May 12-14 at Tuscaloosa, Ala.
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On the different format at the NCAA Men's Outdoor Championships on June 8-10 in Eugene, Ore., it seems Coach Chris Bucknam's No. 5 Razorbacks require a healthy Washington if they somehow are to surpass nationally top three Texas A&M, LSU and Florida from the SEC and No. 4 Oregon, the defending national champion.
Off his performances in the 100 and 200 meters at the NCAA West Outdoor Preliminary last Friday and Saturday in Lawrence, Kan., Washington starts ready to run in Eugene.
Washington posted a meet best time of 10.20 seconds in the 100 and qualified fourth, 20.54, in the 200.
The anchor of Arkansas' 2015 outdoor national champion 400 relay and All-American sixth-place 1,600 relay, Washington pulled up hamstrung in the 200 at the 2016 SEC Outdoor meet.
"It actually was my back, a bulging disk, and it was making my hamstring spasm," Washington said. "But now my back is 100 percent fine. I just had to follow the process the trainers set. I actually feel better than before I hurt my back."
Doug Case, Arkansas' assistant coach for sprints, said Washington's Lawrence schedule eased the pain.
"We didn't overtax him," Case said. "He just ran his two races and we kept him off the relays and he held up fine. He's ready. He cruised that 200. And the 100, even with the fastest time in the whole meet, I don't think he pressed all the way to the end on that either. He has more in the tank to be sure."
Washington said he's ready to run both relays and the 100 and 200 in Eugene.
"I feel good," he said. "I am going to have a big PR [personal record] at nationals."
Even when ailing, Washington said he always feels good at the University of Arkansas, a comfort zone like his West Monroe, La., hometown, he said, vs. two junior college years at Arkansas Baptist in inner city Little Rock.
Washington spoke highly of Arkansas Baptist teammates and coaches, but the surrounding area ...
"Everybody knows that Arkansas Baptist is in the 'hood," Washington said. "I grew up nowhere near the 'hood. When I first got there, I was ready to transfer. Both years I was there, somebody got killed. People were always getting robbed. But I just had to tough it out, and it shaped me into being more of a man. You had to learn how to watch your back there."
He does prefer his UA life moving forward over watching his back.
"I love it," Washington said. "Just the environment and knowing you can be safe. And the learning experience? Grade A."
A+ if the Hogs overcome the team title odds.
"A lot of people are probably counting us out," Washington said. "But we always know you can never count out a Razorback when you come to track."
Sports on 06/01/2016