Arkansas Track & Field Program Quietly Dominates
41. Such a subtle number, it may seem. It can be associated with a number on a jersey, age or monetary amount. However, 41 rings loud and clear for the No. 1 Arkansas men’s track and field team.
The Razorbacks won their 41st NCAA championship Saturday, marking their place as one of the most dominant programs in the nation.
“To get this done, you need a special group of athletes,” head coach Chris Bucknam said. “The coaching staff had everything in place. I’m really proud of how these guys got it together. We followed the plan, and we came in here and got it done.
“We just hope our alumni are proud. We look at all the national championship banners in the ceiling, and our number one goal was to make them proud and show them that we were back.”
Dominant sport teams have been associated with vast amount of titles for a long time. Enthusiasts tend to think of dominant teams such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Boston Celtics, New York Yankees and even the Green Bay Packers.
People tend to focus on major professional dominance, but instances like this in college sometimes don’t receive the respect they deserve.
Arkansas’ men’s track and field program has gained major respect for what they have been able to put together over the years. The win gives the Razorbacks their 20th NCAA indoor team title and 41st national crown overall.
Saturday’s victory is the first NCAA Championship win since 2006, and the program’s first under Bucknam.
This is easily the most dominant team in Arkansas history, in terms of sustained success and number of championships. Sports such as men’s basketball and football steal the headlines more often than not, but at Arkansas, each of those programs only has one national title.
The track and field program quietly goes about its business every year, and continues to produce strong teams and consistent championships.
People remember championships. As a kid, the signs of all the national titles track and field had won were all over the place. This team has earned a lot of respect, and Saturday was just another notch in their already prestigious belt.
This team will continue to be strong and dominant as the years pass. They are able to recruit some of the best athletes from across the world, and seem to be ranked No. 1 more often than not.
Dominance and consistency are always hard to maintain no matter the circumstances. Coaches and teams always strive for consistency, but the men’s track and field and cross country program has figured out a formula for success. The Hogs have displayed their dominance once again, reminding Razorback nation they are still a force to be reckoned with.
Zack Wheeler is a writer for the Arkansas Traveler. His column appears every Tuesday. Follow the sports section on Twitter @UATravSports.
