Arkansas NCAA 1500

Sue We wrote:

2017: 0 at Prelims

2016: 4 at Prelims, 0 at Nationals

2015: 0 at Prelims

2014: 3 at Prelims, 2 at Nationals

2013: 0 at Prelims

Last winner: 2004

I don't think you understand, they are not a distance program anymore, haven't been since Coach McDonnell retired. They are just a regular upper level program with nice facilities and a few standouts in all the event areas, that is a solid contender at the conference level.

Yeap. And makes me sad. Being a distance program is the only way to win triple crowns and 42 nattys in general

Is this a general progression for most teams with such an illustrious history? Seems a bit blasphemous for the program - how do the alumni feel about this?

Runrincerepeat wrote:

Yeap. And makes me sad. Being a distance program is the only way to win triple crowns and 42 nattys in general

It amazes me how many guys Coach McDonnell could bring in with the NCAA scholarship limits.

420_mile_blaze_it wrote:

Is this a general progression for most teams with such an illustrious history? Seems a bit blasphemous for the program - how do the alumni feel about this?

Quite simply, it disgusts me.

Regarding guys on scholarship, being there '92-'96, I had teammates that would have been #1/#2 on top level programs that weren't even able to make our nationals team. Think about who we had though: Bruton, Hanley, welsh, bunston, hood, Godfrey, Gurry, Dressel, Baker, Teddy, etc, etc, etc.

I've long wondered what about the general sentiments on Bucknam from current and former Razorback athletes. It seems like the gradual decline in influence from the distance team has become an area of concern for many, myself included (as a long time fan).

Is this an area of concern from the Arkansas athletic department, though? Or is there simply a lack of emphasis on the history of the program?

Olde Hogge wrote:

420_mile_blaze_it wrote:

Is this a general progression for most teams with such an illustrious history? Seems a bit blasphemous for the program - how do the alumni feel about this?

Quite simply, it disgusts me.

Regarding guys on scholarship, being there '92-'96, I had teammates that would have been #1/#2 on top level programs that weren't even able to make our nationals team. Think about who we had though: Bruton, Hanley, welsh, bunston, hood, Godfrey, Gurry, Dressel, Baker, Teddy, etc, etc, etc.

I maybe recognize 2 of those names. Lol.

Starchild wrote:

Olde Hogge wrote:

Quite simply, it disgusts me.

Regarding guys on scholarship, being there '92-'96, I had teammates that would have been #1/#2 on top level programs that weren't even able to make our nationals team. Think about who we had though: Bruton, Hanley, welsh, bunston, hood, Godfrey, Gurry, Dressel, Baker, Teddy, etc, etc, etc.

I maybe recognize 2 of those names. Lol.

I recognize zero.

I will add that it seems like ever since Dorian ulrey graduated, their middle/long distance group declined dramatically

Sir nose wrote:

Starchild wrote:

I maybe recognize 2 of those names. Lol.

I recognize zero.

I will add that it seems like ever since Dorian ulrey graduated, their middle/long distance group declined dramatically

You're not very well educated regarding that era then. Just because you don't know anything before 2000 (the "lol" added tells me so) doesn't mean it wasn't significant. I was at Stanford during almost this exact period. The Razorbacks were the current "Oregon" during this period. They destroyed everyone. Off the top of my head-

Nial Bruton- Irish Olympian 1500m, multi time NCAA indoor mile champ

Frank Hanley- multi time AA, cojones the size of watermelons in a race- I dreaded running against him.

David Welsh- multi AA out of CA

Bunston- Canadian, 13.20 5k in college when that kind of time was like a 13.10 is now

Graham Hood- collegiate record holder in indoor mile at the time

Godfrey Siamusiye- 2x NCAA xc champ

David Gurry- super hs stud out of Washington. Eventually transferred to UO

Alex Dressel- AA out of WA. Father of current Colorado stud, John Dressel.

Brian Baker- multi time AA out of Arkansas. 5k NCAA champ?

Teddy Mitchell- transfer in from FL, but huge contributor. NCAA 10k champ?

So, you've got the NCAA mile champ, 1500m champ, 5k, 10k, and xc champ all overlapping at some point.

Add in Seneca Lassiter for good measure. Ranked #2 in the USA in 1997 and 1999 while still a collegian. I should also add that Arkansas owned the Penn Relays during that era as well.