Arkansas men’s track team won its second consecutive meet to start the season. The Razorbacks beat Texas in the dual meet Friday by the score of 89-81.

Of the 16 events Arkansas placed first in nine to seal the victory over the No. 10 ranked Longhorns. The Razorbacks took the top four spots in the high jump as well as the top two places in five other events. The win is Arkansas’ third in as many years against Texas.

“I feel really good (about the win) it’s been a long training season.”  coach Chris Bucknam said. “It’s good to see the competitive spirit of our guys. This meet is important just for the fact that it gets our guys out on the track there is a team score. We’ve got a pretty talented group.”

Multiple Razorbacks had big days, including senior Lane Boyer, who ran a season best 8:15 in the 3,000 meter run. His run set the national record for the 3,000 this season, a full six seconds ahead of the closest Texas runner.  Sophomore Noah Kittelson also had a significant night, beating his personal best and tying with junior teammate Brede Ellingsen in the high jump with a jump of 2.16 meters.

“We can win (nationals) we’re a really good team,” Boyer said. “If we all show up mentally and physically to the meet and we’re all on the same page we can be national champions. And that’s our goal, that’s been our goal all season. We’re a national championship caliber team I think we can do it.”

Freshman Andrew Irwin won the pole vault as the final event of the meet to help secure the Arkansas victory. Irwin qualified for nationals against Texas in only the second meet of the year. His final jump height of 5.50 meters is the vault that automatically punched his ticket for nationals. The score is in the top five of Arkansas’s best pole vault scores, despite Irwin only being a freshman.

“We’ve got to work hard, keep push the envelope and stay healthy.” Bucknam said. “This is a solid team. We just focus on one meet at a time.”