Hogs seek sweep at NCAA regional

Arkansas coach Chris Bucknam watches Saturday, April 22, 2017, during the John McDonnell Invitational at John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Two weeks after the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville won men's and women's team titles at the SEC meet, the Razorbacks will be looking for another sweep today at the NCAA South Central Regional in College Station, Texas.

The top two teams in each race automatically advance to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 18 in Louisville, Ky.

At a glance

NCAA Cross Country South Central Regional

WHEN Women’s 6,000-meter race, 9:15 a.m. today. Men’s 10,000-meter race, 10:15 a.m. today.

WHERE Texas A&M course, College Station, Texas.

DEFENDING TEAM CHAMPIONS Men: Arkansas; Women: Arkansas.

WHAT’S AT STAKE Top two teams automatically advance to the NCAA Championships.

NOTEWORTHY Arkansas men’s team has won 36 regional titles and the women’s team has won 21.

The women's 6,000-meter race begins at 9:15 a.m., followed by the men's 10,000 at 10:15 a.m.

Arkansas' teams are favored to win, but coaches Chris Bucknam for the men and Lance Harter for the women said they're taking nothing for granted.

"This is a prelim, but we're not going to take it lightly," Bucknam said. "You still have to run an honest race or you're not going to be in the top two.

"You can't go in there running for second."

The Razorbacks' men's team has won 36 regional titles and four in a row. The women's team has won 21 regional titles and six in a row.

"This is the gatekeeper for the national meet," Harter said. "Obviously, you've got to go out and take care of business.

"There's a point of pride (in that) we've got a long tradition of winning the regional meet, and I think our kids want to continue that momentum."

Seniors Alex George, Jack Bruce and Austen Dalquist will lead the Arkansas men.

The women's team will be led by sophomore Taylor Werner and seniors Nikki Hiltz and Therese Haiss.

Devin Clark, a junior who won the regional title last year for Arkansas' women's team, won't run today because of a leg injury. Harter said it's possible Clark could run at the NCAA Championships.

"The doctors are going to evaluate her next week," Harter said. "We just want to make sure we're really careful and protect her for the indoor and outdoor track seasons as well."

Arkansas' SEC and regional sweeps in 2015 came on the same Texas A&M course the teams will run today.

"We love that course," Bucknam said. "They've done an incredible job building it from scratch.

"We've had success on it. It's a feel-good place for us."

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Sports on 11/10/2017