Ernest Cheruiyot claims SEC Outdoor 10,000m title

AUBURN – Razorback Ernest Cheruiyot won the SEC 10,000m title in the lone final involving Arkansas on the first day of the SEC Outdoor Championships.

Cheruiyot won the race in 29:34.34 over Alabama’s Dismus Lokira (29:36.88) and Florida’s Kelvin Cheruiyot (29:38.71) to pick up 10 team points. Razorback James Sankei, who fell with eight laps remaining, placed 10th in 29:57.88.

This was the first victory for Arkansas in the SEC 10,000m since Eric Fernandez in 2012.

Arkansas advanced four to two finals with a pair of Razorbacks each in the 800m and 200m.

On Friday, qualifying will be held in the 110m hurdles, 1,500m, 400m and 100m while finals will be contested in the long jump and 3,000m steeplechase.

Jelani Watkins led the 200m prelim field with a 20.45 (+0.6 wind) and Dapriest Hogans advanced to the final on time with a runner-up finish of 20.73 (+1.4 wind).

Rivaldo Marshall and Tyrice Taylor each won a 800m heat to auto advance to the final. Taylor claimed the first heat in 1:47.01 which included Razorbacks Josh Rammage (1:48.78) and Wyatt Green (1:56.85).

Marshall posted the top time of 1:46.85 to finish first in the third heat. Owan Logorodi placed third in heat 2 with a 1:49.13.