University of Arkansas Coach Chris Bucknam wasn’t sure what to expect in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships with this being the first season sophomore Andrew Kibet and junior Emmanuel Cheboson have run the event.
“We thought we were good for 10 points, based on our guys being rookies in the steeple,” Bucknam said. “But they’re good athletes and they did a good job.”
The Razorbacks lead the meet in College Station, Texas, through eight of 21 events with 58 points thanks to scoring 17 in the steeplechase with Kibet taking second (8:50.49), Cheboson fourth (8:55.11) and junior Carter Persyn fifth (8:55.92).
Alabama senior Andrew Kiprop won the steeplechase in 8:47.18 after winning the 10,000 on Thursday night to help the Crimson Tide stand in second place with 51 points.
“Kiprop didn’t run cross country or indoor track,” Bucknam said. “He just had outdoor eligibility left, so he’s got fresh legs compared to everybody else that’s out there. And he’s a good athlete. Give him credit.”
Arkansas senior Laquan Nairn went 26-4 1/2 to take third in the long jump. Tennessee junior Carey McLeod went 27-4 1/2 on his final attempt to win the long jump and push LSU junior JuVaughn Harrison (27-0 1/2) to second and Nairn to third.
“Laquan had a couple jumps that were huge, that I thought were winning jumps, but he just fouled on them,” Bucknam said. “I know he’s really disappointed right now, because he feels like he was the best jumper out there.
“McLeod got his foot on the board [for a legal winning jump], and Laquan didn’t, and we got third. But it was an unbelievable competition.”
Razorbacks freshman John Baker was seventh with a jump of 24-11 1/4.
“John is pretty raw, but when you score at the SEC meet as a freshman, that’s pretty doggone good,” Bucknam said. “He’s got a lot of potential.”
Arkansas sophomore Daniel Spejcher took third in the decathlon with 7,479 points, and senior Tyler Brendel was fourth with a personal-best 7,471.
“Those guys battled hard,” Bucknam said.
Spejcher had personal bests in the pole vault (16-0 3/4), javelin (177-0) and 1,500 (4:52.10). Brendel also had personal bests in the pole vault (15-9) and javelin (169-9), and had the second-fastest time in the 1,500 in 4:32.04.
Arkansas junior Markus Ballengee on Thursday was second in the decathlon through four events before having to drop out because of hamstring tightness.
Auburn freshman Kyle Garland won the decathlon with 8,196 points. LSU’s Harrison won the high jump in an SEC meet record (7-8 3/4).
Three Razorbacks advanced in the 110 hurdles: freshman Phillip Lemonious (wind-aided 13.38), sophomore Tre’Bien Gilbert (13.62) and senior Carl Elliott (13.72). Arkansas junior Amon Kemboi (3:46.91) advanced in the 1,500, sophomore James Milholen in the 400 (45.98) and junior Roman Turner in the 100 (10.34).
While Arkansas and Alabama are 1-2 going into today’s final events, Bucknam said No. 1-ranked LSU — fourth with 38 — remains the team to beat.
“We’ve got to have a championship effort, no question about it,” Bucknam said. “That’s what it’s going to take to win, because LSU is the best team in the country, and Alabama and us are chasing them. So it’s going to be a tight meet.”