FAYETTEVILLE -- No teams will outnumber the Arkansas men or women when it comes to the potential to put up points at this week's NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
The Razorbacks' women's team, ranked No. 1 in the coaches poll, and the No. 5 men's team both lead in number of scoring chances for the meet, which begins Wednesday at Oregon's Hayward Field.
Arkansas' women's team has 21 scoring chances in 12 events from 15 athletes. Kentucky, coached by former Razorback Edrick Floreal, is second in scoring chances with 17, followed by Texas A&M (16) and Oregon (15).
The Razorbacks' men's team has 20 scoring chances with 18 athletes in 12 events. Oregon and Texas A&M have 17 each.
"Having 21 qualifiers is just beyond anybody's expectations," Arkansas women's coach Lance Harter said. "We're diversified across the board as far as distance runners, jumpers, heptathletes, sprinters, both relays.
"Now we've just got to make sure that we harvest as many points from each position as we can."
Chris Bucknam, Arkansas' men's coach, said the big numbers for the NCAA meet are by design.
"The fact we have the largest contingent going, that's something we talk about and work for all year long," Bucknam said. "We have that mentality of all hands on deck."
Both Arkansas teams have quality along with quantity.
The women's team has national leaders in three events: senior Dominique Scott in the 5,000 and 10,000 meters, and freshman Lexi Weeks in the pole vault.
Scott, a three-time NCAA champion, helped Arkansas win the 2015 NCAA indoor title. She was out of eligibility indoors this year when Oregon edged Arkansas 53-50 for the national title in March at Birmingham, Ala.
"We actually brought home the second-place banner and put it on our locker room floor and we now walk over it every day when we come in to practice and leave practice just to remind ourselves that second place isn't what we want to get outdoors," Scott said. "We want to be on top."
Senior Taylor Ellis-Watson ranks second in the 400 and anchors the nation's leading 1,600 relay and the 400 relay.
"Taylor's probably one of the fiercest competitors that we've ever had in a Razorback uniform," Harter said. "Going to her final collegiate meet, I think she's got great focus."
The men's team is led by sprinters and jumpers.
Senior Jarrion Lawson, a three-time NCAA champion, ranks second in the long jump and sixth in the 200. He'll also run in the 100 and is on the Razorbacks' third-ranked 400 relay team and could run on the 1,600 relay if needed.
Senior Marqueze Washington and sophomore Kenzo Cotton are in the 100 and 200 as well as the 400 relay, and both could also run on the 1,600 relay. Junior triple jumper Clive Pullen, the NCAA indoor champion, ranks second nationally outdoors.
"I feel our guys are fresh," Bucknam said. "I feel that we're on the upswing. I know what our guys have done. I'm confident in that."
Arkansas has won 12 NCAA outdoor titles, but none since 2005.
"We've got a shot," said assistant coach Travis Geopfert, who coaches the field events. "We have a really balanced team, so we're going to come at it from all angles."
The Arkansas women are trying to win their first outdoor national championship, which Harter said could carry more significance than winning indoors
"I think it would be even more special, because it takes a bigger group," he said. "There are more events to be able to score in, and we haven't won one yet."
Oregon's men's and women's teams swept NCAA outdoor titles at home last season and have the firepower to repeat.
"I know the 15,000 people they have in the stands, when one of those Oregon jerseys go by, it definitely accelerates how loud the crowd is," Harter said. "You know who they're cheering for.
"We're going to try to irritate them as much as we possibly can."
Sports on 06/07/2016