Runner's & Triathlete's Web Athletics: Bucknam Era Begins at Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - The 2008 Arkansas Razorback men's cross country season will begin this weekend with a home meet in Fayetteville. The Hogs, Missouri Southern and Oklahoma will compete in the Arkansas Dual at 7 p.m. Friday night at Fayetteville's Agri Park.

Running in the four-mile race for Arkansas will be seniors Scott MacPherson and Alex McClary, juniors Daniel LaCava and Rio Reina and sophomores Lane Boyer and Michael Chinchar.

Freshmen Rick Elliott, Eric Fernandez and Mitchell Munoz will make their Razorback debuts Friday night.

Seniors Andy McClary and James Strang will not compete because of injuries. McClary is suffering from inflammation due to a long track season and Strang is nursing a foot injury. Both should be in top form for the Chile Pepper Festival

Head coach Chris Bucknam, in his first season with the Hogs, will coach a 2008 roster that includes nine newcomers. Transferring from Northern Iowa and Wake Forest, respectively, are Dorian Ulrey and Patrick Russell. Rick Elliott, Eric Fernandez, Scott Gillespie, Michael Golden, Aaron Hamilton, Rob Redwine and Dylan Roberts will join the roster as true freshmen.

Arkansas returns six student-athletes from the 2007 roster that won the Razorbacks' 34th-consecutive conference title and 30th NCAA Regional title.

Senior Shawn Forrest won the four-mile race at the 2007 Arkansas Dual with a time of 19:29.1 and led the Hogs to the team title with 18 points. Missouri Southern finished second with 37 points.

The Razorbacks will open the schedule with a low-key home meet, travel to Joplin for the MSSU Stampede Sept. 20, venture to Stanford Sept. 27 and then run their first 10K of the season at the Chile Pepper Festival in Fayetteville.

The championship season begins with SECs in Starkville, Miss., Mon., Nov. 3, the NCAA South Central Regional Championships in Waco, Texas, Nov. 15. It all culminates with the NCAA Championships Mon. Nov. 24.

For meet entries and results of the Arkansas Dual, visit FlashResults.com. For more information on Arkansas Razorback Athletics, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.