TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Make it double triple crowns for Arkansas’ men’s and women’s track and field teams.
The Razorbacks swept the team titles at the SEC Outdoor Championships Saturday to complete triple crowns in which both also won conference cross country and indoor track titles this school year.
Arkansas’ No. 4-ranked men’s team won with 121 points with Texas A&M taking second with 101.
The Razorbacks’ No. 2 women’s team also beat the Aggies, 126.75 points to 82.
“It was a total team performance, to say the least,” women’s Coach Lance Harter said. “We came from all sides and all angles, and we asked some of our athletes to do a little more work than most people would have.”
Arkansas freshmen Lexi and Tori Weeks — twin sisters from Cabot — took first and second in the pole vault, clearing 15-0 and 14-1 1/4. Senior Megan Zimlich finished fourth to give Arkansas a combined 23 points in the event.
“Coming into this meet we had the triple crown on our minds,” Lexi Weeks said. “We went into (the pole vault) knowing our team needed us to put points on the board and I’m glad we were able to that.”
Razorbacks senior Dominique Scott-Efurd won the 5,000 meters (16:10.02) and took second in the 1,500 (4:23.15). Arkansas senior Taylor Ellis-Watson won the 400 (50.81) and took second in the 200 (22.48).
The only other time both Arkansas programs won SEC triple crowns was during the 1999-2000 school year.
“It’s real rarefied air to be in,” Harter said. “When you talk about the SEC and the great teams that are here and have been here in the past, you’re talking about very special teams and very special athletes, so to be able to do that is historical and we’re glad to be a part of setting history.”
Arkansas’ women’s team has won seven consecutive SEC titles in cross country and indoor and outdoor track.
Senior Clive Pullen won the triple jump in an NCAA-leading 55-0 3/4 for the Arkansas’ men’s team only individual title Saturday.
Pullen’ s winning mark came on his second attempt. He decided to pass on his last four attempts to avoid aggravating an injury.
“I still have a long a season ahead of me and it’s just the start,” Pullen said. “So I’m building from now on, hopefully to the Olympics.”
Arkansas senior Jarrion Lawson scored in four events, including three Saturday when he ran on the Razorbacks’ second-place team in the 400-meter relay (38.96), took fourth in the 100 (10.24) and sixth in the 200 (20.56) after winning the long jump Friday (25-11 1/4).
Razorbacks senior Ken LeGassey high jumped 7-2¼ to take second.
Sophomore Jack Bruce scored in two events for Arkansas Saturday, taking third in the 1,500 and eighth in the 5,000.
Arkansas clinched the team title in the 5,000 —the meet’s next-to-last event —with Alex George taking fourth, Austen Dalquist and Cale Wallace sixth.
The Razorbacks’ men’s and women’s team next will compete at the NCAA West Regional May 25-27 in Lawrence, Kan.
Sports on 05/15/2016