Nate Allen

FAYETTEVILLE - Starting today through June 27 some 19 Arkansas Razorbacks and former Razorbacks aim to earn spots on this summer’s U.S Olympic Track and Field team at the U.S Olympic Trials in Eugene, Ore.

Those from Coach Chris Bucknam’s current  Razorbacks men’s team with U.S. Olympic Trials qualifying marks to advance to Eugene are  decathlete Markus Ballengee, 110-meter hurdlers Tre’Bien Gilbert and Carl Elliott and 400-meter hurdler Nicholas Hilson and former Razorbacks Andrew Irwin of Mount Ida in the pole vault, long jumper Jarrion Lawson and hammer thrower Erich Sullins.

Arkansas’ women’s contingent at Eugene is headed by 2016 U.S. Olympic silver medalist and since then World Championships pole vaulter Sandi Morris among alums including Taliyah Brooks, competing in both the heptathlon and open 100-meter hurdles; Springdale’s Payton Chadwick in the 100-meter hurdles; Nikki Hiltz in both the 800 and 1,500-meter runs;  Taylor Werner, 5,000-meter run and Kiara Parker in the 100-meter dash.

Current Razorbacks off Coach Lance Harter’s NCAA Indoor champion Razorbacks assisted by sprints coach Chris Johnson and field events coach Bryan Compton include Jada Baylark of Little Rock Parkview 100 and 200 meter dash; Krissy Gear, 3,000-meter steeplechase; Katie Izzo, 5,000-meter run;  Taylor Ewert, 20 kilometer walk; and pole vaulters Nastassja Campbell and Lauren Martinez.

The 2020 U.S. Trials in Eugene and 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo were postponed until 2021 because of the then pre-vaccine worldwide  covid-19 pandemic.