Nate Allen

FAYETTEVILLE - If the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships that the University of Arkansas hosts March 11-13 began today the Razorbacks women and men would be favored.
The season’s first United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association poll issued this week ranks Coach Lance Harter’s defending SEC champion Arkansas women and Coach Chris Bucknam defending SEC champion Arkansas men No. 1.
As usual, the SEC dominates the polls.
In the women’s poll, Texas A&M, Georgia and Alabama rank second, third and fifth with LSU seventh and Kentucky and Tennessee ninth and 10th.
Harter’s Razorbacks, the 2019 NCAA champions, are defending national champions since the NCAA shut down 2020 spring sports because of the coronavirus the day before the 2020 NCAA Indoor was to begin in Albuquerque, N.M.
Behind Bucknam’s men and surprising No. 2 North Carolina A&T, SEC members LSU and Tennessee rank third and fifth and Alabama ranks eighth.
Harter’s women sport 20 listed in the top 10 for their events including nationally No. 1 Krissy Gear, mile, 4:38.2; Lauren Gregory, 3,000 meters 9:01.44; and the 4 x 400 relay, 3:32.18.
Bucknam’s men sport 10 in the top 10 of their individual events paced by mile leader Amoi Kemboi, 3:58.26.
Friday and Saturday Arkansas hosts the Razorback Invitational meet at the Randal Tyson Indoor Track.