FOOTBALL
Small signs with Seahawks
Former Arkansas fullback Kiero Small agreed to terms on Thursday on a contract with the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks, according to KJR-AM in Seattle and ProFootballTalk.com. Terms of the contract were not released for Small, a 5-8, 247-pounder who the Seahawks drafted in the seventh round of the NFL Draft on Saturday. Seattle, which has also signed sixth-round pick safety Eric Pinkins, will open a weekend mini-camp today. Small, primarily a lead blocker for the Razorbacks in 2011 and 2013, rushed for 151 yards and 3 touchdowns and caught 19 passes for 128 yards and 1 touchdown.
— Tom Murphy
TRACK AND FIELD
Arkansas’ Gochenour in second in heptathlon
Arkansas’ Alex Gochenour is in second place after the first day of the heptathlon at the SEC Outdoor Championships in Lexington, Ky. Gochenour has 3,379 points while Leigha Brown is in fifth place with 3,253 points. Gochenour finished second in the 100-meter hurdles in 13.83 seconds. She was fourth in the high jump clearing 5 feet, 6 ½ inches, third in the shot put with a throw of 40-6 ¾ and fifth in the 200 dash in 25.42 seconds.. Brown finished fourth in the 100 hurdles in 14.12, cleared 5-4 ¼ in the high jump, threw the shot put 39-11 ½ and ran the 200 dash in 25.43. In the men’s decathlon, Nathanael Franks is in sixth place with 3,621 points. Franks finished 12th in the 100 dash (11.54), seventh in the long jump (22-¼ ), second in the shot put (41-10 ½), eighth in the high jump (6-½ ) and third in the 400 dash (49.95). Brad Culp is in ninth place with 3,459 points. He was fourth in the 100-meter dash (11.13), 12th in the long jump (21-2 ¾), 10th in the shot put (37-10), 11th in the high jump (5-11 ¼ ) and 13th in the 400 dash (52.07). Lane Austell was 13th with 3,312 points.
ASU duo recognized by Sun Belt
Arkansas State’s Sharika Nelvis and Roelf Pienar were named most outstanding female performer and most outstanding male field performer by the Sun Belt Conference. Nelvis won three of four events at the Sun Belt Outdoor Championship May 9-11 in San Marcos, Texas. She won the 100-meter hurdles in 12.67 seconds, the 100 dash (11.17) and the 200 dash (22.70) and finished second in the long jump (20 feet, 7 inches). Pienaar won the long jump by clearing 26-1 and the triple jump (51-2 ¼ ).
12 UCA athletes honored by Southland
Twelve Central Arkansas track and field athletes were honored Thursday by the Southland Conference. The awards are earned by finishing in the top three at the Southland Outdoor Championship, which was held last weekend at UCA’s Bill Stephens Track Complex in Conway. UCA had two first-team honorees, two second-team selections and eight third-team members. Senior Erika Setzler earned first-team honors for repeating as the 3,000-meter steeplechase champion in a time of 10:20.56. She also earned third-team honors with a third-place finish in the 5,000 meters with a time of 18:03. Sophomore Brooke Cassar was UCA’s other multi-All Southland selection, defending her title in the 10,000 meters (37:06.15). Senior Tanesha Maxwell earned third-team honors with a third-place finish in the 100 meters (11.66). Senior Jordan Chadwick was a third-team selection, finishing third in the 800 meters (2:13.11), while freshman Marine Lecart was also a third-teamer with a third-place finish in the 1,500 meters (4:32.73). Sophomore Corentin Louis finished second in the 1,500 meters in a time of 3:53.57 and earned second-team honors. The 4x400 relay team of Trevon Boyd, Kelton Ray, Dustie Smith and Chance Turner earned third-team honors in a time of 3:12.03.
SOFTBALL
Arkansas has three named to all-region team
Arkansas’ Kasey Fagan, Clarisa Navarro and Devon Wallace were named to the National Fastpitch Coaches Association All-South Region second team. Fagan led Arkansas with 46 RBI and was second on the team with 9 home runs and 47 runs scored. Navarro had a team-high .353 average and 12 doubles. Wallace had 12 home runs and 21 extra base hits.
BASEBALL/SOFTBALL
High school coaches asked to report statistics
High school baseball and softball coaches are encouraged to report their end of the year statistics to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Statistics needed include: At-bats, hits, runs, doubles, triples, home runs, RBI, stolen bases and batting average. These statistics will be used in helping to select the All-Arkansas Preps teams. Coaches may submit statistics by faxing them to (501) 378-3869 or by email to tcooper@arkansasonline.com.