'One down'
Bucknam earns first SEC title
Matt Watson
Issue date: 3/6/09 Section: Sports
"That's how you compete. That's what this team is all about," Bucknam said. "[McClary] sent a message that we were gonna bring this thing home and it just rallied our team."
The meet was closely contested going into the final day. Arkansas led with 37 points, with Florida (33) and Tennessee (32) close behind. In the crucial 800-meter event, McClary's win notched 10 points for the Hogs, with three Gator runners combining for 10 points together and the two Volunteer runners scoring eight points combined.
"To have Alex come around like that, it was done. It was over. Having him being a senior, and the way he did it, and seeing the joy in his face, is pretty special stuff, for a coach, a guy sitting behind the [microphone]," Bucknam said.
Bucknam admitted to feeling burdened last week before the meet, leading a group of seniors in their last shot at an SEC indoor title.
"There will be other SEC championships that I'll be in, but that's what was important for me Sunday," Bucknam said. "We hope to continue to make those kind of memories and do those kind of things as we go through the year. That's what feels good…I'm going to get choked up here. I'm not going to say anymore. It felt good, let me just say that, how our kids did it."
The Razorbacks will now turn their attention to the Arkansas Last Chance meet today in preparation for the NCAA Championships next weekend.
Bucknam said they are watching the national performance lists closely.
"We qualify by time only and performance only. Our region is the whole country. So we have to be real cognizant of what's happening in these last chance meets and who's on the bubble," he said. "We've got some work to do, so we're gonna regroup a little bit and get our heads right for Friday and make one final push to get as many kids into that national meet as possible."
How the rest of the year plays out will be determined later, but Bucknam has accomplished one goal already, and that is making champions out of this year's Razorbacks.
"I think we sent a message that we're a pretty good team," Bucknam said.
The meet was closely contested going into the final day. Arkansas led with 37 points, with Florida (33) and Tennessee (32) close behind. In the crucial 800-meter event, McClary's win notched 10 points for the Hogs, with three Gator runners combining for 10 points together and the two Volunteer runners scoring eight points combined.
"To have Alex come around like that, it was done. It was over. Having him being a senior, and the way he did it, and seeing the joy in his face, is pretty special stuff, for a coach, a guy sitting behind the [microphone]," Bucknam said.
Bucknam admitted to feeling burdened last week before the meet, leading a group of seniors in their last shot at an SEC indoor title.
"There will be other SEC championships that I'll be in, but that's what was important for me Sunday," Bucknam said. "We hope to continue to make those kind of memories and do those kind of things as we go through the year. That's what feels good…I'm going to get choked up here. I'm not going to say anymore. It felt good, let me just say that, how our kids did it."
The Razorbacks will now turn their attention to the Arkansas Last Chance meet today in preparation for the NCAA Championships next weekend.
Bucknam said they are watching the national performance lists closely.
"We qualify by time only and performance only. Our region is the whole country. So we have to be real cognizant of what's happening in these last chance meets and who's on the bubble," he said. "We've got some work to do, so we're gonna regroup a little bit and get our heads right for Friday and make one final push to get as many kids into that national meet as possible."
How the rest of the year plays out will be determined later, but Bucknam has accomplished one goal already, and that is making champions out of this year's Razorbacks.
"I think we sent a message that we're a pretty good team," Bucknam said.
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