Razorbacks ready to square off against elite men’s field, including top-ranked Northern Arizona, No. 2 Notre Dame and No. 5 BYU; Arkansas women get rematch with No. 10 Utah, along with facing No. 5 Colorado in Tallahassee

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Two weeks ahead of preparing to defend their Southeastern Conference championships in Missouri, the Arkansas men’s and women’s teams are going to learn what kind of effort and racing strategy it will require to win an NCAA Division 1 title Nov. 20 when the Razorbacks compete Friday at the Florida State Invitational, also doubling as the Pre-Nationals, at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

The men’s garnet 8-kilometer race is scheduled for 8 a.m. EDT and the women’s garnet 6-kilometer race is expected to follow at 8:35 a.m. EDT.

“I want to see what my team is made of, and I want to see if they can compete. I want to see if they can answer a big challenge like this. It’s a practice run for the SEC meet and the national meet,” Arkansas men’s coach Chris Bucknam said. “I think our guys are excited about running and testing themselves. That’s what it comes down to, it’s a test to see how you measure up.”

Competing in one of the strongest men’s fields of the regular season, with 40 teams entered and 12 ranked programs, No. 8 Arkansas will get an opportunity to square off against top-ranked and defending champion Northern Arizona, No. 2 and reigning national runner-up Notre Dame, No. 5 Brigham Young and No. 7 Colorado.

The Razorbacks will also get to face a pair of conference rivals in No. 22 Alabama and No. 28 Ole Miss.

“It’s definitely a one-stop shop,” Bucknam said. “We’re going to be able to see the two best teams in our conference that we’ll have to go up against, Alabama and Ole Miss, and, of course, the two best teams in the nation, according to the polls, all in one place. It’s going to be a real challenge and we’ll get a chance to scout each other.”

The men’s individual battle will feature a rematch of the Division 1 final March 15 in Stillwater, Okla., with reigning champion Conner Mantz of BYU racing against runner-up Adriaan Wildschutt of Florida State on his home course.

Northern Arizona will be led by returning All-Americans Abdihamid Nur and Nico Young, with Notre Dame finally expected to showcase its top lineup for the first time this season, including All-Americans Danny Kilrea, Dylan Jacobs, Andrew Alexander and Jake Renfree.

Arkansas, which placed fourth March 15 at the Division 1 championship meet, will be led by All-Americans Amon Kemboi and Gilbert Boit, along with veterans Emmanuel Cheboson and Andrew Kibet.

BYU will also showcase All-American Casey Clinger, as well as returning NCAA finalists Brandon Garnica and Aidan Troutner. Colorado is led by NCAA finalists Eduardo “Lalo” Herrera, Alec Hornecker, Austin Vancil and Ethan Powell.

Jonathan Davis of Illinois, Nick Scudder of Charlotte, Christian Allen from Weber State, Cole Bullock of Ole Miss, Victor Kiprop and Eliud Kipsang of Alabama, Zach Facioni of Wake Forest and Ahmed Muhumed of host Florida State should also be among the top individuals in the men’s garnet race.

Arkansas, the No. 11 ranked women’s team, will have an opportunity to compete against No. 5 Colorado and No. 10 Utah, which prevailed Sept. 23 against the Razorbacks at the Bill Dellinger Invitational in Oregon.

There are 10 ranked programs among the 34 teams in the women’s garnet 6-kilometer field, including SEC rivals in No. 14 Ole Miss and No. 27 Kentucky, as well as an underrated Tennessee lineup that placed third Sept. 24 at the Roy Griak Invitational behind No. 6 Minnesota and No. 22 Iowa State.

“We can see how good the SEC is going to be. We’re definitely going to have our hands full at the SEC Championships. This will serve, somewhat, as a measuring stick to see where we are and where we’re going,” Arkansas women’s coach Lance Harter said. “With Utah running so well at Oregon last month, it will be an interesting gauge to see how we match up with them. This will be the first time we’ll actually have our top eight in the same race.”

Arkansas should have Lauren Gregory and Krissy Gear among the top individuals in the race. They are expected to be challenged by returning All-Americans Taryn O’Neill of Northern Arizona, Summer Allen of Weber State, Abby Nichols of Colorado, Paige Hofstad of North Carolina, Maggie Donahue of Georgetown and teammates Maudie Skyring and Rebecca Clark of host Florida State.

Joyce Kimeli from Auburn, Joy Chirchir of Toledo, Sydney Seymour and Katie Thronson from Tennessee, Sintayehu Vissa and Anna Elkin of Ole Miss, Brynn Brown and Sasha Neglia from North Carolina, Adelyn Ackley and Calli Doan of Liberty, Billie Hatch from Weber State, Emily Covert of Colorado, Camila Noe from Montana State, Emily Venters, Simone Plourde and Ariel Keklak of Utah, in addition to Lauren Ryan from host Florida State are also expected to be individual contenders in the women’s competition.