NCAA CROSS COUNTRY: Windblown Hogs nab 10th

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — Elite status still eludes Arkansas after a 10th-place finish at the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Arkansas entered the meet ranked ninth in the nation and coming off impressive victories at the SEC and South Central Regional meets. The Razorbacks were hoping for a top-five finish, but even though they fell short, Coach Chris Bucknam said the team still made major progress this season.

Arkansas finished the men’s 10K race with 329 points, well behind Oklahoma State, which won its second consecutive title with 73 points. Florida State was second with 193 and Wisconsin third with 223.

The women Razorbacks didn’t have a team entry, but senior Miranda Walker competed as an individual and finished 91st in the 6K in a time of 21:17.90.

Senior Dorian Ulrey was Arkansas’ top finisher at 11th overall - ninth among team affiliated runners - in 30:02. Sophomores Solomon Haile and Eric Fernandez were 17th and 79th overall, but Arkansas’ fourth and fifth runners didn’t crack the top 130.

“It doesn’t sound sexy finishing 10th,” Bucknam said. “It’s a process. We have to take any improvement we make and be happy. We’re going to keep plugging away.”

The Razorbacks had finished 23rd, 28th and 26th the past three years at nationals. Once again, Ulrey led the way for Arkansas, earning his second All-American honor since following Bucknam from Northern Iowa three years ago.

Haile also earned All-American honors.

Bucknam said the elements worked against the Razorbacks on a cold, blustery day. The wind conditions made the runners have to work to sustain pace since the wind come from different directions during the course.

That didn’t affect experienced runners as much, Bucknam said, but it slowed freshman Bryan Cantero and junior-college transfer Dey Tuach, both of whom are primarily milers. Cantero was Arkansas’ fourth runner in 139th place and Tuach was 156th.

“I thought we could have five in the top 60, but it didn’t materialize,” Bucknam said. “I’m not making excuses. It was a complicated race.

“It wasn’t a rhythm race. It was workmanlike. It made it tough on the young guys.”