EUGENE – A runner-up finish in the long jump by Juriad Hughes and third place for Ernest Cheruiyot in the 10,000m totaled 14 points for the Razorbacks on the opening day of the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field.

Arkansas also advanced seven entries in five events to Friday finals, which includes both relays.

Advancing to NCAA finals | 7 entries | 5 events

Hughes set a pair of career best marks in the long jump and ranks No. 9 on the UA all-time list with a 27-0.75 (8.25) in the final round after a 27-0 (8.23) in the third round. Kansas State’s Tafadzwa Chikomba won the event with a 27-5.5 (8.37) while his teammate Uroy Ryan placed third at 26-4.5 (8.04).

Cheruiyot posted a time of 27:58.62 for third in the 10,000m. New Mexico’s Habtom Samuel won the race in 27:51.31 while Elsingi Kipruto of Louisville finished second in 27:54.04.

The Razorbacks 14 points currently has them tied for fourth place with Minnesota and Tennessee in team scoring. With six finals scored on Wednesday, Nebraska leads with 28 points and are followed by Oregon (18) and Kansas State (16).

Arkansas opened the first day of the NCAA Championships with a school record in the 4 x 100m relay. The Razorbacks won the opening heat in 38.32 over LSU (38.40) and Arizona (38.79) with a crew of Jamarion Stubbs, Tevijon Williams, Dapriest Hogans, and Jelani Watkins.

The previous UA record of 38.47 was set in 2015 by the foursome of Omar McLeod, Jarrion Lawson, Kenzo Cotton, and Marqueze Washington.

Auburn won the second heat in a collegiate and meet record of 37.75 over Houston (38.34). The previous collegiate record of 37.90 was set by LSU in 2023 while Florida (2019) and Auburn (2025) shared the previous meet record of 37.97.

In the 100m, Watkins won his heat in 10.05 while Auburn’s Kanyinsola led the field with a 9.94. Williams ran 10.31while Karabo Letebele did not finish.

Jordan Pierre and TJ Tomlyanovich reached the 400m on time. Pierre ran 44.89 for third in first heat. Tomlyanovich secured the final spot advancing to the final with a 45.56 for fourth place in the final section.

In the 4 x 400m relay, Pierre anchored the Razorbacks with a 44.49 split as Arkansas clocked 3:00.85 behind a 3:00.54 for LSU. The first three legs for the Razorbacks included Tomlyanovch (46.30), Devyn Wright (45.12), and Cruzan Zander (44.94).

Rivaldo Marshall led the 800m field with a. 1:45.05 and Tyrice Taylor won his heat in 1:46.98.

Watkins missed the 200m final by 0.006 of second as he clocked 20.40 for third in his section. Three sprinters tied for the final position in the final. Hogans ran 20.81 in the first heat.

Brian Masai finished ninth in the second section of the 1,500m with a time of 3:37.92. The last time qualifier to the final was 3:36.77.

A trio of Razorbacks in the 110m hurdles just missed advancing on time. Jerome Campbell ran 13.38 to place fourth in the second heat. Karamoko Sacko equaled his career best with a 13.42 to finish fifth in the second heat. Abdoul Sy-Savane finished fifth in the first heat with a 13.44.