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DES MOINES, Iowa – Nkosinza Balumbu earned a bronze finished for Arkansas Razorback track and field on day four of the NCAA Championships. Arkansas finished 17th in the team standings with 18 points.
Balumbu, the 2008 NCAA Indoor Champion in the event, held the leading mark in the triple jump until the fourth round of jumps. His best jump of the day, measuring at 54-4, was passed by jumpers from Cornell and Florida State on their final attempts. Balumbu earned the fifth All-America honor of his career with his bronze finish. The finish is also the highest he has achieved at an NCAA outdoor event.
“Third place was disappointing but at the same time it was bittersweet,” Balumbu said. “I have been banged up so much this season. Thanks to my medical staff I was able to come out here and jump. There were a few times this season I didn’t think I’d be help to jump. My late father is a huge inspiration to me and motivation for me to always come out and do my best. I’m just happy to come away from this healthy and with not much of a limp. Third place was all my body could handle today.”
Balumbu, Peter Kosgei (steeplechase), Spencer McCorkel (pole vault), Shawn Forrest (10K) and James Strang (10K) have been named All-Americans during the championships. Arkansas and head coach John McDonnell now boast 657 All-America honors earned by 188 student-athletes.
Saturday’s final day of competition at the NCAA Championships marked the final meet for McDonnell. He ends his tenure at Arkansas with 42 NCAA titles, five NCAA triple crowns, 84 conference titles, 21 conference triple crowns and 34-consecutive conference cross country titles.
Many former and current Razorbacks will compete in the US Olympic Trials, June 26 – July 7, at Oregon’s Hayward Field. For complete results of the NCAA Championships, visit Hogwired.com.
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