Arkansas third at NCAA Outdoor, one point from national title

EUGENE – A strong final day of performances at the NCAA Championships produced 40 points for the Razorbacks as they placed third in team scoring behind two teams tying for the national championship with 41 points each at Hayward Field on Friday.

USC and Texas A&M shared the national team title while Arkansas finished third. This marks the sixth podium finish for the Razorback men in the past seven NCAA championships held in cross country, indoor and outdoor track and field.

Third place is the highest finish for the Razorbacks at a NCAA Outdoor Championship since a runner-up effort in 2023. Rounding out the top five teams were Auburn (35) and New Mexico (31).

The rest of the top 10 included Oklahoma (30.5), Minnesota (25), Florida (22), Kentucky (22), and Ole Miss (22). Seven of the top 10 teams were SEC schools.

Jordan Anthony supplied 16.5 points with a victory in the 100m, anchoring a third-place 4 x 100m relay, and placing fourth in the 200m.

Stationed in lane 9 for the 100m, Anthony claimed the victory with his signature lean in 10.07 seconds (0.7 wind) over a pair of 10.10s for USC’s Max Thomas and LSU’s Jelanie Watkins. Anthony swept the NCAA Indoor 60m and NCAA Outdoor 100m this season.

Initially the Razorbacks were fourth in the 4 x 100m relay in 38.72, but a disqualification by LSU (38.56) moved Arkansas into the bronze medal position behind Auburn (38.33) and USC (38.46) with South Florida (38.73) fourth.

Racing in lane 8 for the 200m, Anthony posted a time of 20.01 (0.3 wind) in finishing behind Kentucky’s Carli Makarawi (19.84), Auburn’s Makanakaishe Charamba (19.92), and USC’s Garrett Kaalund (19.96).

In the 800m Rivaldo Marshall and Tyrice Taylor teamed up for seven points. Marshall earned a bronze medal with a 1:46.71 while Taylor placed eighth in 1:47.44.

Arkansas completed the meet with a bronze medal finish in the 4 x 100m relay with a time of 3:01.59, which ranks No. 5 on the UA all-time list. South Florida won the race in 3:00.42 over a 3:00.73 for Texas A&M.

USC placed eighth in 3:03.18 to earn one point that created the tie for the national team title.

The Razorback foursome on the relay included TJ Tomlyanovich (46.19), Steven McElroy (45.01), Jonah Vigil (45.25) and Jaden Smith (45.14).