Arkansas Outdoor Track and Field thread(updated with 1st regular season poll)

[JHicks3636]

I am starting this thread for the Outdoor Track season. I suggest track fans use it to post track info throughout the season. It is clearly marked as a track thread so those who do not like track won't have to open the thread and be subjected to track news.

The USTFCCCA released the pre-season polls today. Hogs ranked a close 2nd to Texas A&M. Arkansas finished 8th at last year's NCAA Outdoor Championships.

http://www.ustfccca.org/assets/rankings/div1/2013-otf/NCAAD1_2013_outWk0_TF_NationalRankingsTop25.pdf

[longtimeHogfan]

Can an athlete compete in both track & field and football?  It's probably occurred many times and I just don't recall.  If it's happened before, how is the scholarship thing handled between sports? 

[Razorback Ranger]

It's not unusual to see football players that are also sprinters on the track team. The scholarship I believe sticks to the football team.

[pigture perfect]

Yeah they can. Batman Carrol and Fred Talley are 2 that come to mind.

[ICEman]

The US...Alphabet Soup will end up flipping the Arkansas and aTm scores (and then some) as soon as the Razorbacks open up their outdoor campaign. 

[arkansastrack]

Can an athlete compete in both track & field and football?  It's probably occurred many times and I just don't recall.  If it's happened before, how is the scholarship thing handled between sports? 

Yes they can. If an athlete is on a FB scholarship they are allowed to run track as a freshman. If they are on a track scholarship then they are not allowed to play FB (or basketball) until their JR year. This keeps teams from fielding a track team as a way to supplement their FB scholarships.

[tbhogfan]

Can an athlete compete in both track & field and football?  It's probably occurred many times and I just don't recall.  If it's happened before, how is the scholarship thing handled between sports? 

Yes, it has occurred many times.  When I was at UA, we had several football players come out and run with us.  The scholarship stays with football, since men's track teams are limited to very few scholarships, which are normally spit between athletes (half to this kid, quarter to these two).

[tbhogfan]

Also, like most sports, don't read too much into the early season rankings.   Much can and will change during the season.   

[jbcarol]

Troy Dannen ‏@TroyDannenUNIAD 19 Mar Kudos to Chris Bucknam. Bucky selected for UNI Athletics Hall of Fame.  25 MVC titles at UNI.  2013 NCAA Indoor Champ at UA.  @jefflongUA

[JHicks3636]

The 1st regular season poll finds Arkansas closing in on Texas A&M

http://www.ustfccca.org/2013/04/featured/arkansas-men-closing-in-on-top-spot-di-rankings-kansas-women-extend-lead

[razorback44]

Thanks for the update. I will be truly be impressed if Bucknam can pull off outdoors.

[discombobulationist]

Can someone please explain to me the biggest differences between indoor and outdoor track? Don't they have the same events? How does A&M not do much in indoor, but get ranked #1 in outdoor?

[oldhawg]

Can someone please explain to me the biggest differences between indoor and outdoor track? Don't they have the same events? How does A&M not do much in indoor, but get ranked #1 in outdoor?

An Aggie runner told me that it was because they had to run more laps in indoor meets. 

Sorry, just couldn't resist.

[PonderinHog]

Can someone please explain to me the biggest differences between indoor and outdoor track? Don't they have the same events? How does A&M not do much in indoor, but get ranked #1 in outdoor?

The indoor javelin and discus events really gets the spectators' attention.

[Piglywigly]

Can someone please explain to me the biggest differences between indoor and outdoor track? Don't they have the same events? How does A&M not do much in indoor, but get ranked #1 in outdoor?

There are some differences between indoor and outdoor.  Javelin and discus are outdoor only (A&M has a highly ranked javelin thrower).  The 4X100 is run outdoor and the DMR is not.  This tends to favor 'sprint' schools, although the 10K is also added outdoors.  The 400 hurdles is also only run outdoors.  There are a few other differences also.  I always thought there should be some sort of distance relay outdoors, maybe 4X800 or 4XMile.  Those are always awesome races at the relay events like Penn, but are not run at NCAA.

[PonderinHog]

There are some differences between indoor and outdoor.  Javelin and discus are outdoor only (A&M has a highly ranked javelin thrower).  The 4X100 is run outdoor and the DMR is not.  This tends to favor 'sprint' schools, although the 10K is also added outdoors.  The 400 hurdles is also only run outdoors.  There are a few other differences also.  I always thought there should be some sort of distance relay outdoors, maybe 4X800 or 4XMile.  Those are always awesome races at the relay events like Penn, but are not run at NCAA.

What about the decathlon?

[Wild Bill Hog]

Ho hum, another poll dominated by SEC teams.

[discombobulationist]

There are some differences between indoor and outdoor.  Javelin and discus are outdoor only (A&M has a highly ranked javelin thrower).  The 4X100 is run outdoor and the DMR is not.  This tends to favor 'sprint' schools, although the 10K is also added outdoors.  The 400 hurdles is also only run outdoors.  There are a few other differences also.  I always thought there should be some sort of distance relay outdoors, maybe 4X800 or 4XMile.  Those are always awesome races at the relay events like Penn, but are not run at NCAA.

Thanks, it still seems odd that we can beat them by 118 points in the indoor championships, but a few events can vault them ahead of us in the outdoor rankings. It does make sense that the aggies would be good at handling a spear though.

[Piglywigly]

Thanks, it still seems odd that we can beat them by 118 points in the indoor championships, but a few events can vault them ahead of us in the outdoor rankings. It does make sense that the aggies would be good at handling a spear though.

We only won the indoor by 15 points. The points in this 'poll' don't reflect the scoring at the meet. They have some sort of formula to try to show a teams overall strength. For example, Raymand Higgs is ranked #1 in the long jump in this poll which gives the team 34.42 'points'. The most he could score in that event would be 10 points. They are not trying to predict the actual meet scoring.  Anyone ranked in the top 50 in an event earns some points in this poll, but only the top 8 actually score any points in the meet.

[Piglywigly]

What about the decathlon?

Heptathlon indoor, decathlon outdoor.  Pretty much the same thing in terms of team scoring potential.

[discombobulationist]

We only won the indoor by 15 points. The points in this 'poll' don't reflect the scoring at the meet. They have some sort of formula to try to show a teams overall strength. For example, Raymand Higgs is ranked #1 in the long jump in this poll which gives the team 34.42 'points'. The most he could score in that event would be 10 points. They are not trying to predict the actual meet scoring.  Anyone ranked in the top 50 in an event earns some points in this poll, but only the top 8 actually score any points in the meet.

I see, thanks again. I was never really interested in track when we were piling up the NCs, but the drought got my attention. I watched the indoor championship (on tv) with my kids and they loved it.

[ICEman]

The 'nearly new' John McDonnell field will get a bit of a face-lift this summer.  New mondo will replace the current running surface along with a few important cosmetic additions.  These additions will include a bronze statue of Coach McDonnell along with a display board detailing his incredible tenure as the leader of the Razorback Thinclads.

[HognitiveDissonance]

Thanks, it still seems odd that we can beat them by 118 points in the indoor championships, but a few events can vault them ahead of us in the outdoor rankings. It does make sense that the aggies would be good at handling a spear though.

Did you hear about the Aggie who won a gold medal in the Olympics?
Javelin catching.


Sorry, couldn't resist.

[arkansastrack]

The 'nearly new' John McDonnell field will get a bit of a face-lift this summer.  New mondo will replace the current running surface along with a few important cosmetic additions.  These additions will include a bronze statue of Coach McDonnell along with a display board detailing his incredible tenure as the leader of the Razorback Thinclads.

Better late than never. The statue was supposed to be in place at the 2009 NCAA Championships.

[HognitiveDissonance]

Did you hear about the Aggie who won a gold medal in the Olympics?
Javelin catching.


Sorry, couldn't resist.

He was so proud of it he had it bronzed.

[oldhawg]

Who from Arkansas has qualified for the NCAA Outdoor Track & Field event?