Fayetteville – Racing in the distance medley relay for the first time this season, the Razorbacks smashed the school record with a time of 9 minutes, 24.56 seconds in the Arkansas Qualifier and moved to No. 8 on the all-time collegiate list.
It was a very fast distance medley inside the Randal Tyson Track Center with the Razorbacks finishing fifth in the race as the all-time collegiate list totaled five additions among the top eight. Arkansas’ previous record of 9:28.35 was set in 2009.
Also producing a mark that ranks on the collegiate all-time top 10 list was Amon Kemboi with a runner-up time of 7:42.29 in the 3,000m that ranks fifth all-time on 200m banked tracks. Kemboi moved from No. 8 to No. 2 on the UA all-time list, trailing only the 7:38.59 school record set by Alistair Cragg in 2004.
Last week in Washington, Kemboi broke Cragg’s UA record in the 5,000 with a 13:26.44 performance.
“We had a good meet all around,” said Arkansas men’s coach Chris Bucknam. “I’m really proud of our guys. It’s been a grind these last couple of weeks. Coming off of Tyson and coming into these meet we knew we had to get some things done.
“The DMR got it started today with a great run and a school record. It was set up perfect and the guys just kind of let loose and let it go. We had five teams all finish pretty close to each other. I’m just happy with how those guys ran. To break the school record by that much is a pretty great effort by our guys.”
Washington won the distance medley relay race in 9:21.10, becoming the third fastest school behind the collegiate record of 9:19.42 set by Oregon on the Randal Tyson Track Center last January and a 9:20.75 by Ole Miss at the 2021 NCAA Championships, also set in Fayetteville.
Alabama finished second in 9:22.43, becoming the No. 4 school, while Oklahoma State clocked 9:22.70, the fifth fastest school, with Iowa State fourth in 9:24.07, No. 7 all-time. Coming into this weekend Oklahoma had the collegiate leading time with a 9:28.88 from the Razorback Invitational.
The Razorback foursome included a pair of runners making their debut on a distance medley relay with Andrew Kibet on the opening 1,200m leg and Elias Schreml on the 1,600m anchor leg.
Kibet started things off for Arkansas with a split of 2:53.61 and James Benson II provided a 45.49 leg. Benson was the anchor leg of the 4x400 relay school record a week ago.
Kieran Taylor covered the 800m leg in 1:48.45 while Schreml, a freshman from Germany, anchored in 3:57.01.
“The goal was to keep it really smooth, and that’s what we did today,” said Taylor. “It’s crazy to think it gets you fifth today, but a couple of years ago it’s the collegiate record. Not only that, it’s a school record. To better the previous team is a great accomplishment.
“It’s kind of tricky in the DMR, because you want to run a fast time but position going into the mile is really important. I probably could have taken the lead on my leg, but to sit and make sure the handoff was smooth with Elias, in the right position, was more important.”
Schreml added: “It’s incredible, I was pretty sure we could run a fast time. I’m very happy to be part of a school record.”
Washington moved for fifth to first on the anchor leg as Brian Fay supplied a 3:52.81 anchor while Alabama and Oklahoma State each had 3:55 anchor legs from Eliud Kipsang (3:55.51) Ryan Schoppe (3:55.53) respectively.
The Huskies bettered the meet record of 9:29.87 set in 2008 by the Arkansas Track Club, which included Josephat Boit, Wallace Spearmon, James Hatch and Alistair Cragg.
Members of the previous Arkansas school record on an oversized track performance in Washington included Al McClary, Ben Skidmore, Chris Bilbrew and Dorian Ulrey.
Oklahoma City’s Zouhair Talbi won the 3,000m in a meet record of 7:40.39 and became the third fastest collegian all-time. Iowa State’s Wesley Kiptoo finished third in 7:43.61, moving to No. 6 on the all-time collegian list. The previous meet record of 7:52.17 was set by Ryan Vail in 2009.
Kemboi splits included 2:35.69 at 1k, 5:09.71 (2:34.02) at 2k and he covered the final 1k in 2:32.58.
“Amon had one shot in the 3k and he took advantage of it,” noted Bucknam. “It shows you the type of competitor Amon is, he knew this was his only shot to run that fast. He nailed it, and is now No. 3 in the country this season and No. 2 on our all-time list.”
A season best of 7.66 had Phillip Lemonious placing second in the 60m hurdles and finishing as the top collegian. Teammates Tre’Bien Gilbert (7.81) and Brevin Sims (7.93) were fourth and fifth.
Ruben Banks hit a season best mark of 68-9.25 (20.78) to place second in the weight throw. In the pole vault, Etamar Bhastekar placed third with a clearance of 17-2.75 (5.25) as Rhett Nelson finished seventh at 16-8.75 (5.10). Roman Turner’s season best 6.71 earned him third in the 60m.
Benson (21.23) also raced in the 200m, placing fourth as teammate Rhayko Schwartz (21.46) finished fifth. Ricardo Banks led a Razorback 4-5-6 finish in the 800m with a 1:49.33 as he was followed by Jadon Bartholomew (1:49.49) and Ethan Carney (1:50.08 PR).
Arkansas alums provided some stellar performances as well. Laquan Nairn registered his second consecutive victory in the long jump and improved his Bahamian national record to 26-10 (8.18) during a final round jump. His previous best of 26-9.25 (8.16) was set in Fayetteville in 2021.
Kemar Mowatt posted the top time in the 400m at 46.94, as a collision with 100m remaining in a section with three Razorbacks nullified their efforts.
In an Invitational mile, alums Cameron Griffith (3:57.95) and Austen Dalquist (3:57.99) each clocked sub-4-minute times and career best marks. They later teamed up as rabbits to set the early pace in the 3,000m.
Another section of the mile included a career best of 3:58.63 (3rd place) for Jacob McLeod, who is an Arkansas redshirt this indoor season, while newcomer and another redshirt Lexington Hilton posted a 4:02.37 (5th place).
Current Razorback Josh Shearer set a career best of 4:06.65 as runner-up in another section to place ninth overall while Tommy Romanow was third in the section and 11th overall with a 4:10.13.