Track Hogs host McDonnell Invite
Matt Watson
Issue date: 4/17/09 Section: Sports
More than two months since the last big invitational meet in Fayetteville, the No. 3 Arkansas track team will finally compete again this weekend in the Track and Field Capital of the World.
The 2009 John McDonnell Invitational will be the school's first outdoor track meet without the legendary coach for whom the meet is named, and will be held at John McDonnell Field, which will also host the NCAA Championships in mid-June.
First-year Razorback head coach Chris Bucknam led the Hogs to a No. 1 ranking for parts of the indoor season and an SEC Indoor Championship. When the Razorbacks finished eighth at the NCAA meet, they made a commitment to slow things down to open the outdoor season and focus on staying healthy and peaking later in the season.
"I've always had the philosophy…that when you look at the indoor season, it's the month of February when you really want your kids to have some quality performances. When you look at the outdoor season, it's always the end of April - the Drake Relays, the Penn Relays and beyond," Bucknam said. "I think what happened indoors a little bit, we went to a very competitive Washington meet, did some great things, but it scared me a little bit how fast we ran in January.
"That's the thing that we're trying to temper this outdoor season a little more is slow everybody down a little bit, to make sure that hey - it's about May and June," Bucknam said.
Several Razorbacks competed at the Sun Angel Classic at Arizona State last weekend, where seven Hogs recorded regional qualifiers. The week before, Arkansas picked up two regional qualifiers, and four regional qualifiers at the season-opening Stanford Invitational in late May.
Bucknam said he's not worried about team finishes on Saturday, just individual progress from each athlete. "It's a collection of individuals peaking at the right time at SECs and nationals that make the great team, so we're focused on individual development right now and hoping that our kids can make progress and stay healthy in the meantime," he said.
McDonnell Field will host a stout field that includes three other ranked teams, No. 12 Nebraska, No. 21 Northern Iowa and No. 25 Missouri.
"I think there's going to be something for everybody. You're gonna have some national-caliber kids competing in every event," Bucknam said.
The meet starts with two events Friday, the hammer throw at 12 p.m. and the 5,000 meters at 9 p.m. Saturday's field events will kick off at 9:30 a.m., and running events at 12 p.m.
"It's a great atmosphere on campus. You've got a track meet going on. You've got (Razorfest) and the (Razorback football) spring game," Bucknam said. "I'm sure there will be a circus atmosphere, which will gravitate to the track as well, weather permitting.
"There will be a lot of activity on campus, which makes for a fun spring day."
A live stream of Saturday's events will be available at arkansasrazorbacks.com.
The 2009 John McDonnell Invitational will be the school's first outdoor track meet without the legendary coach for whom the meet is named, and will be held at John McDonnell Field, which will also host the NCAA Championships in mid-June.
First-year Razorback head coach Chris Bucknam led the Hogs to a No. 1 ranking for parts of the indoor season and an SEC Indoor Championship. When the Razorbacks finished eighth at the NCAA meet, they made a commitment to slow things down to open the outdoor season and focus on staying healthy and peaking later in the season.
"I've always had the philosophy…that when you look at the indoor season, it's the month of February when you really want your kids to have some quality performances. When you look at the outdoor season, it's always the end of April - the Drake Relays, the Penn Relays and beyond," Bucknam said. "I think what happened indoors a little bit, we went to a very competitive Washington meet, did some great things, but it scared me a little bit how fast we ran in January.
"That's the thing that we're trying to temper this outdoor season a little more is slow everybody down a little bit, to make sure that hey - it's about May and June," Bucknam said.
Several Razorbacks competed at the Sun Angel Classic at Arizona State last weekend, where seven Hogs recorded regional qualifiers. The week before, Arkansas picked up two regional qualifiers, and four regional qualifiers at the season-opening Stanford Invitational in late May.
Bucknam said he's not worried about team finishes on Saturday, just individual progress from each athlete. "It's a collection of individuals peaking at the right time at SECs and nationals that make the great team, so we're focused on individual development right now and hoping that our kids can make progress and stay healthy in the meantime," he said.
McDonnell Field will host a stout field that includes three other ranked teams, No. 12 Nebraska, No. 21 Northern Iowa and No. 25 Missouri.
"I think there's going to be something for everybody. You're gonna have some national-caliber kids competing in every event," Bucknam said.
The meet starts with two events Friday, the hammer throw at 12 p.m. and the 5,000 meters at 9 p.m. Saturday's field events will kick off at 9:30 a.m., and running events at 12 p.m.
"It's a great atmosphere on campus. You've got a track meet going on. You've got (Razorfest) and the (Razorback football) spring game," Bucknam said. "I'm sure there will be a circus atmosphere, which will gravitate to the track as well, weather permitting.
"There will be a lot of activity on campus, which makes for a fun spring day."
A live stream of Saturday's events will be available at arkansasrazorbacks.com.
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