FAYETTEVILLE — The Arkansas Razorbacks scored 24 points Friday to take the early lead in the first day of the NCAA Indoor Championships held in the Tyson Center, their home venue, but the Hogs could have scored more.
Through six events, Florida has 20 points, followed by Florida State with 14, Arizona State with 12 and Northern Arizona, Oregon, Washington with 10.
The Razorbacks distance medley relay squad finished second when Arkansas senior All-American Dorian Ulrey was overtaken in the final 60 meters of the race by Oregon runner Andrew Wheating . After the race, Ulrey regretted not setting a faster pace.
"For the second year in a row my teammates left me in the right position," Ulrey said, and for the second year in a row, I left them high and dry."
The pace was slow, but Ulrey didn't realize how slow it was when he began to lead the pack with four laps remaining.
"I knew I wasn't hurting, but I thought I just into it," he said. "I wish now I would have made it hurt and set a pace that would have held them off."
Arkansas coach Chris Bucknam didn't second guess his star runner's.
"You have runner's making decisions in the middle of the competition," Bucknam said. "He went when he thought he needed to at the speed he needed to. If he went out in front, the result would have probably been the same.
Arkansas' other disappointment came in the 5,000-meter run when senior Scott McPhearson failed to score.
"That one race should not define Scott's career," Bucknam said. "He's a multi-All-American who has helped us win three titles. I think his emotion and effort in the SEC Championships may taken it out of him. But you run one race and win one championship at a time, and Scott was key in our SEC title."
Though the Razorbacks left some points on the track, Bucknam was excited by the performance of his jumpers.
"Our jumpers did fantastic in the long jump," Bucknam said. "Getting those 16 pointer was big."
Arkansas senior Alain Bailey leaped onto a long list of Razorback national champions in the long jump.
Bailey's jump is the fourth longest in UA indoor history and is the second longest UA mark that won a NCAA title to Erick Walder's leap of 27-8 in 1994.
Arkansas picked up 16 big points in the event, thanks to Tarik Batchelor's third place finish with an effort of 26-0.
Bailey's individual championship is the eighth long jump title won by a Razorbacks since 1984 when Mike Conley, who won gold in the 1992 Olympics, won the first. Conley repeated as the title holder in 1985. Erick Walder won the long jump title in 1992, 1993 and 1994. Robert Howard won it in 1997 and Melvin Lister in 2000.
Ulrey, who runs in the 3,000 on Saturday, said he must bounce back quickly.
"I have to get my head up and be ready to make something happen in the 3,000," Ulrey said.
Along with Ulrey in the 3,000, Arkansas has Breda Raa Ellingsen competing in the high jump, and Batchelor in the triple jump.
Texas A&M's Curtis Mitchell ran a 20.67 in the 200, which was the best time of the year in the event.
Auburn leads the women's race with 18 points, followed by Tennessee with 16, Arizona with 15.5, Oregon 13 and Penn State 11.
The estimated attendance was 3,233.
WOMEN'S
Women's Weight Throw: 1.D'Ana McCarty of Louisville, 74-8.25; 2. Victoria Flowers of Connecticut, 70-4.25; 3. Irene Cooper of W. Michigan, 269-2.75; 4. Jeneva McCall of So. Illinois, 67-11; 5. Nikola Lomnicka Georgia, 66-8; 6. Mallory Barnes Dayton, 66-3; 7. Faith Sherrill Indiana, 67-7.5; 8. Kristin Smith Kentucky, 65-2.
Women's High Jump: 1. Elizabeth Patterson Arizona, 6-4; 2. Amber Kaufman Hawaii, 6-2.75; 3.Epley Bullock Arizona, 6-0.5; 3. Brigetta Barrett LSU, 6-0.5 ; 5. Brittani Carter LSU, 5-11.25; 6. Audrey Svane Nebraska, 5-11.25; 7. Ashley Rhoades Indiana 5-11.25; 8. Krystle Schade Alabama, 5-10; 8. Priscilla Frederick St. Johns, 5-10.
Women's 500: 1. Lisa Koll Iowa State, 15:39.65; 2. Marie Louis Asselin W. Virginia, 15:50.53; 3. Jackie Areson Tennessee, 15:53.12; 4. Bridget Franek Penn St., 15:58.02; 5. Alex Bekcer Tulsa, 15:58.53; 6. Megan Duwell Minnesota, 15:59.23; 7. Kimberly Ruck Clemson, 16:01.24; 8. Felicity Milton Oklahoma State, 16:01.90.
MEN'S
Men's Shot Put: 1. Ryan Whiting of Arizona St., 70-7.25; 2. Kemal Mesic of Florida, 63-2.25, 3. Joe Kovacs Penn St., 62-11.25, 4. Steve Marcelle Georgia Tech, 62-4; 5. Mason Finley Kansas, 61-6.5; 6. Aaron Studt Minnesota, 61-5.5; 7. Jason Lewis Arizona St., 61-2; 8. Blake Eaton Penn St., 60-6.
Men's Heptathlon: 1. Ashton Eaton Oregon, 3,561; 2. R.J. McGinnis Minnesota, 3,200; 3. Bjorn Barrefors Nebraska, 3,196; 4. Lars Rise Missouri, 3,194; 5. Mateo Sossah N. Carolina, 3,1700; 6. Mantus Silkauskas Kansas St., 3,168; 7. Michael Morrison California 3,163; 8. Gray Horn Florida, 3,122.
Men's Long Jump: 1. Alain Bailey Arkansas, 26-9.75; 2. Christian Taylor Florida, 26-0.25; 3. Tarik Batchelor Arkanas 26-00; 4. Zedric Thomas LSU, 25-9.25; 5. Bryce Lamb Texas Tech, 25-9.25; 6. Luis Rivera-Morales Arizona, 25-9.25; 7. Madanha Chibudu Florida State, 25-7.5; 8. Tone Belt Louisville, 25-4.
Men's 5,000: 1. David McNeill No. Arizona, 13:36.41; 2. Sam Chelanga Liberty, 13:37.01; 3. Justin Tyner Air Force, 13:41.26; 4. Chris Barnicle New Mexico, 13:43.20; 5. Jon Grey William & Mary, 13:46.12; 6. Festus Kigen TCU, 13:50.21; 7. Elliott Heath Stanford, 13:51.00; 8. Colby Lowe Oklahoma State, 13:54.90.
Men's Distance Medley Relay: 1. Oregon 9:36.87; 2. Arkansas 9:37.53; 3. Minnesota 9:38.09; 4.California 9:38.19; 5. Eastern Michigan 9:38.44; 6. UCLA 9:39.2; 7. Indiana 9:39.35; Texas 9:39.91
