(August 31, 2024) Conway, Arkansas - After a Region II Runner-Up finish in 2023, the Bucks were excited to get the 2024 season in motion at the UCA Bear Invitational at Beaver Lake. The men return the core of last year's team with 4 sophomores. Those men are joined by 3 freshmen and a sophomore transfer.

This morning, the Buck ran the 5K race against four NCAA Division I schools: Central Arkansas, UA Little Rock, North Texas, & UA Pine Bluff. Other schools joining the race included Philander Smith and Central Baptist College. There were 43 total runners in the race. The men normally run an 8K race in college, but this was a good start for the Bucks. All schools have been battling the heat with their training schedules.

UA Little Rock finished first in the race, followed by Central Arkansas. The Bucks would finish fourth on the day against stiff competition.

Similar to the ladies, the Bucks had a runner break a school record. Sophomore transfer Danny Lamas (Dodge City, KS) nearly broke into the 15 minute mark with a 16:00.12 to finish 28th overall in the race. The previous school record was a 16:40. Last year's surprise runner for the Bucks, Yermy Gonzalez (Horatio, AR), finished 30th overall with a 16:34.77.

The rest of the Bucks finished as follows:

35th - Tommy Banks (Houston, TX) - 17:30.64

36th - Alfred Rodriguez (Dalhart, TX) - 17:42.52

38th - Beau Reed (Moore, OK) - 17:50.50

39th - Desmond Thompson (Fort Smith, AR) - 18:02.77

40th - Montana Wesley (Waldron, AR) - 18:04.04

41st - Noah Burns (Weatherford, TX) - 18:49.37

Complete race results can be found here >>> https://milesplit.live/meets/633090/events/1/results/F/M. 

The men will now turn their attention to the Bob Gravette Invitational next Saturday, September 7th, hosted by Ouachita Baptist University. 

#DefendTheMountain