Senior Alain Bailey won his first NCAA individual title for No. 8 Arkansas Razorback men’s track and field on day one of the NCAA Indoor Championships, at the Randal Tyson Track Center on Friday.

After day one of competition and six events scored, Arkansas leads the team race with 24 points. Florida is second with 20 points and Florida State is third with 14 points.

“What Alain and Tarik did in the long jump was really a great start for us,” Bucknam said. “They did their best to get this team going and scored some big points for us. Unfortunately, Scott MacPherson had an off day and that happens. I know he wanted to end his career on a high note but he has done some much for us during his time and he has a lot to be proud of.”

Bailey won the long jump with a mark of 26-9.75, matching his personal best from the 2010 SEC Indoor Championships. He earned his fourth All-American honor, third indoors, and won Arkansas’ eighth NCAA Indoor long jump title, the first since Melvin Lister’s 2000 victory. Bailey’s mark is also the second-longest recorded by a Razorback to win an NCAA Indoor title.

“This feels so great,” Bailey said. “I’ve been waiting four years for this and I finally got it. I’m ecstatic right now. I was able to jump a really good series, very consistent. I had three jumps over 26 feet and felt really relaxed. I started tiring after that third jump but it held up.”

Sophomore Tarik Batchelor picked up a bronze finish in the long jump and the duo scored 16 points for the Razorbacks. Batchelor’s best jump of the day measured 26-0 and the three-time NCAA qualifier earned his first All-America honor.

“They gave unbelievable effort,” assistant coach Travis Geopfert said. “When you come into a national championship ranked first and third, you obviously have a big target on your back. To be able to come out of it first and third, that just shows you how good they’ve been at handling the pressure. It was great they could do this at home. The fans were great, all the teammates were down there clapping and cheering. It created an exciting atmosphere for an exciting competition.” Read More

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