Arkansas has historically been one of the best track and field programs in NCAA history, leading all schools in terms of gender throughout the season. However, Arkansas is home to more than just team championships; It is the center of Randal Tyson’s indoor track record.
The Randal Tyson Track Center has hosted 13 NCAA championships in the 21st century, setting 22 percent of the Division I championship record (eight of 36). That percentage jumped to 53 percent after the 2021 championship was held at the Fayetteville track.
The US non-NCAA championship record was the women’s 800m college record set by Texas A&M’s Atin Mu at the 2021 SEC Championships at the Randal Tyson Running Center, and the 2021 men’s college record was set by Oregon State’s Cooper Teer. Set by Oklahoma State during the 2023 Arkansas draft.
Here’s a look at all of Arkansas’ indoor NCAA championship records through 2024.
2007 – Women’s shot put
A collegiate athlete doesn’t set world records, but Southern Illinois’ Brittany Riley did just that at the 2007 NCAA Indoor Championships. His mark of 25.56 meters in the shot put not only set an NCAA championship record, but also a world record that stood until 2017.
2008 – Men’s shot put
In 2008, Arizona State’s Ryan Whiting threw the shot put 21.73 meters, setting the oldest NCAA men’s championship record in 2008 in Fayetteville. Whiting’s performance helped the Sun Devils win the 2008 NCAA Indoor Championships.
2013 — Men’s 3000 m
Arizona’s Louie LaLang had a successful college career, but Randall Tyson’s 2013 performance against center is still in the history books more than a decade later. Lalang set an NCAA championship record with a time of 7:45.94 in the 3,000 meters.
2015 — Men’s shot put
Wisconsin’s Michael Lihrman made history at the 2015 NCAA Indoor Championships with a throw of 24.64 meters. He has won consecutive titles in this category with a record breaking record.
2015 – Women’s Mile
Michigan’s Leah Folland set the women’s record by finishing in 4:27.18 at Arkansas’ home track.
2021 – Men’s Mile
Oregon’s Cole Hocker is one of the many great distance runners in the program’s history. His 2021 time of 3:53.71 remains the championship record.
2021 – Male DMR
Men’s DMR – 2021 NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships
The Oregon State DMR team set a championship record in 2021 with a time of 9:19.98. Here’s how the legs run.
- Reed Brown—2:52.73
- Xavier Nairne – 47.58
- Charlie Hunter—1:46.70
- Cooper Tire — 3:52.99
Oregon also won the 2021 men’s team title.
2021 – Pentagram for women
Texas A&M’s Tyra Gittens holds the all-time pentathlon record with 4,746 points. Here’s how he broke his championship record in five tournaments.
- 60 obstacles | 2nd place | 8.27 seconds | 1068 points
- High Jump | 1st place | 1.93 meters | 1145 points
- Shot Blast | 1st place | 13.86 meters | 785 points
- Long Jump | 1st place | 6.58 meters | 1033 points
- 800 meters | 15th place | 2:28.22 | 715 points
Previous records that have since fallen
The following are the NCAA championship records set at the Randall Tyson Track Center. (annual package):
- Men’s Pole Vault (2021)
- Men’s 5000m (2021)
- Men’s Triple Jump (2015)
- Men’s Heptathlon (2010)
- Men’s 60m (2008)
- Men’s 60 Hurdles (2015)
- Men’s 200m (2005)
- Men’s 400m (2005)
- Men’s 800m (2001)
- Men’s 4x400m Relay (2015)
- Women’s 60m (2021)
- Women’s 800m (2021)
- Women’s 4x400m Relay (2021)
- Women’s Long Jump (2021)
- Women’s 200m (2021)
- Women’s Triple Jump (2021)
- Women’s DMR (2015)
- Women’s Pole Vault (2015)
- Women’s 60 Hurdles (2013)
- Women’s Shot Put (2013)
- Women’s 400m (2010)
- Women’s 3000m (2004)
- Women’s 5000m (2004)
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