What would an outdoor track and field meet be without some rain … and another rain delay?

  The third day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships is shaping up to be much like the first day of competition – wet and off-schedule because of the weather. Lightening and heavy rain has pounded Fayetteville for more than hour.

  That doesn’t bode well for the NCAA Championships at John McDonnell Field. The finals of several big races are scheduled for today, but we’ll have to see how the weather will affect the events. Maybe the sky can clear up and track officials will be able to get everything in without pushing other events back too much.

  But that’s me crossing my fingers. I was planning to head over to the track early this afternoon, but considering how it looks outside, I’d simply be sitting in the press box, waiting for the rain to stop so the events can begin. It doesn’t look good at the moment.

The second day of the NCAA Outdoor Championships just wrapped up here at John McDonnell Field.

Oregon’s Ashton Eaton wrapped up the national title in the decathlon to give the Ducks 10 more points. The decathlon, which began at 2:30 p.m., stretched long into the night. But it finally ended.

With it, here’s a look back at the day and a look ahead to Friday:

THURSDAY RECAP
Athlete of the Day: Oregon’s Galen Rupp capped the second day with a thrilling run in the 10,000. Rupp was part of a three-man pack that led the race from start to finish. He turned it on during the last two laps to claim his fifth national championship of the 2008-09 running season.
Distance of the Day: 3/4 of an inch. The top six in the women’s long jump were separated by less than an inch. FSU’s Kimberley Williams was one of three to jump 21-5 1/2, but was declared the winner of the event.
Time of the Day: 22.38. Texas A&M sprinter Porscha Lucas cruised to the collegiate-leading time in her 200-meter semifinal heat. Lucas, who also qualified for the finals in the 100, bested her time of 22.52 in the first round earlier.
Quote of the Day: “We’re disappointed that we’re not in the hunt for the team title, but that does not mean we’re going to change the way we compete,” said Arkansas coach Chris Bucknam, acknowledging that the Razorbacks title hopes are done after struggling in key events Thursday.

HOW ARKANSAS ATHLETES FARED
Alain Bailey (Long jump): Bailey, who had best leap entering meet, finished seventh to score two points.
Etienne Chaplin (Heptathlon): Sits in 16th place after scoring 3,311 points in four of the hep’s seven events.
Shawn Forrest (10,000): Wrapped up a second-place finish with a strong run (in the 10,000 meters.
Alex McClary (800): McClary struggled down the stretch in his 800 semifinal heat. Didn’t qualify for the finals
Andy McClary (1,500): Ran the 1,500 in 3:47.50, but didn’t have the late kick needed to qualify for the finals.
Jillian Rosen (1,500): Set a personal record of 4:18.56 in the 1,500, but it wasn’t enough to qualify for finals.
Mychael Stewart (Long jump): Finished eighth in the long jump finals, leaped 25-11 to earn the Hogs a point.
James Strang (10,000): Earned three points for the Razorbacks with a sixth-place finish in the 10K.
Dorian Ulrey (1,500): Qualfied for the finals in the 1,500 by finishing second in heat with a time of 3:44.58.
Catherine White (10,000): Scored Arkansas’ first points with a sixth-place finish, running the 10K in 34:15.26.

WHAT TO WATCH FRIDAY
1. The 100-meter final should be a thrilling race between LSU’s Trindon Holliday and Clemson’s Jacoby Ford. Holliday ran a 10-flat in qualifying. Ford ran a 10.01.
2. Arkansas’ Katie Stripling, the nation’s leader in the pole vault, will be aiming for the national title tonight. Stripling finished third at the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships.
3. Haven’t had enough of Oregon’s Galen Rupp? There’s good news. The dominant distance runner takes aim at his second title when he runs the 5K final.
4. Colorado distance runner Jennifer Barringer has won two outdoor titles in the 3,000 steeplechase in her career. She is the overwhelming favorite to win her third today.

RAZORBACKS COMPETING FRIDAY
Nkosinza Balumbu (Triple jump qualifying), 4:30 p.m.
Tarik Batchelor (Triple jump qualifying), 4:30 p.m.
Etienne Chaplin (Heptathlon), 1:45 p.m.
Katie Stripling (Pole vault final), 7 p.m.
Sarah Landau (Pole vault final), 7 p.m.
Scott MacPherson (3,000 steeplechase final), 6:40 p.m.
Shelise Williams (400 semifinal), 7:15 p.m.
Denise Bargiachi (5,000 final), 8:15 p.m.

  It’s not official, but it might as well be.

  It does not look like the Arkansas men’s track and field team is going to win its 41st national championship on its home track this weekend.

  Razorbacks coach Chris Bucknam acknowledged a few minutes ago that the Hogs don’t have enough athletes left in the field to score the points needed to knock off a team like Oregon for the national title.

  Arkansas’ long jumpers scored only 3 points – well below what was projected – and several of its distance runners have failed to qualify for their respective finals. That led Bucknam to say the following:

  “We’re disappointed that we’re not in the hunt for the team title, but that does not mean that we’re going to change the way we compete,” Bucknam said. “We’re going to get after it with everything we’ve got these next couple of days. The kids have a sense of pride and they’re going to try to get it done.”

Arkansas women’s distance runner Jillian Rosen didn’t advanced to the finals in the 1,500 meters, but the sophomore was all smiles anyway Thursday.

Rosen set a new personal record in the event with a time of 4:18.56. Her previous best was 4:21.58.

“One of my season goals was to break 4:20,” Rosen said. “Coming into this meet I wanted to run a PR. It would be amazing if I made it to the finals, but all these girls are amazing. So just to be in that company is really exciting. I’m happy. I did what I could.”

Arkansas women’s coach Lance Harter was brimming, too, after Rosen’s run.

He said Rosen did everything tactically correct and believes the performance builds momentum for next season.

“Breaking 4:20 for most is like climbing Everest,” Harter said. “Now we’re at the top, now we can look and sure enough there’s another hill to climb.”

The women’s team has one more competitor scheduled to run tonight. Catherine White will compete in the 10,000 meters and has a chance to pick up the first points for the women’s team.

The Arkansas men’s team needed everything to go according to plan to have any hope of winning a national title this week.

Pulling only three points out of the long jump was not part of that plan.

Arkansas’ Alain Bailey, who had the second-best jump heading into the finals, finished seventh in the finals, while Mychael Stewart was eighth for the Razorbacks on Thursday. Ngonidzashe Makusha of Florida State won the national title in the event, while Stanley Gbagbeke of Middle Tennessee State and Nicholas Gordon of Nebraska finished second and third, respectively.

“Seventh place, that wasn’t the aim,” Bailey said. “I got a couple points, (but) I’m capable of doing much better. Overall I’m disappointed.”

That’s not a good start on the first day of scoring events for the Razorbacks.

Arkansas also failed to move on to the 800 finals a couple minutes. Middle distance runner Alex McClary struggled down the stretch and finished 17th in the semifinal round of the event. Only the top nine qualified for tomorrow’s final.

Arkansas distance runner James Strang will have one more opportunity to help the Razorbacks earn some more points in the 10,000 later tonight. The overwhelming favorite in the field is Oregon’s Galen Rupp.

Arkansas heptathlete Etienne Chaplin’s goal at the NCAA Outdoor Championships is to notch a top eight finish.

But after completing four events in the heptathlon Thursday, the senior will have to play catch up to accomplish the feat.

Chaplin is in 16th place with 3,311 points after the first day of the two-day event at John McDonnell Field. She was happy with her performance in the 100-meter hurdles (13.95 seconds), the high jump (5 feet, 5 1/4 inches) and the 200 (10.99 second).

But the shotput was another story. Chaplin’s throw of 36-feet, 3/4 inches was not what she expected.

“I don’t think words can even explain it,” Chaplin said. “There’s really no excuse. I’m very disappointed. I’m not putting it together. … I can’t say that i’m upset about it because I know I was giving my all. It just wasn’t there for me.

“So clearly there’s something I’m doing wrong. But this is nationals, there’s no excuses.”

Nia Ali of Southern California leads the heptathlon field after one day (3,663 points). Liz Roehrig of Minnesota (3,651) is second and Michigan’s Bettie Wade is third (3,601 points).

Chaplin’s situation isn’t a dire one. She is 86 points out of eighth-place after Thursday’s competition and believes she is strongest on the second day of the competition. The heptathlon’s long jump (Chaplin’s speciality), javilin throw and 800 will be held Friday.

“I think tomorrow is my strongest day,” Chaplin said. “I think I can make a big push. That’s normally how my heps go. I’m kind of sitting at the back after the first day. But day two I’m able to put a lot together.”

Chaplin earned All-American honors in the 2007 heptathlon. But in her mind it came with an asterik because she finished 12th.

So she said her goal is to finish eighth and earn a spot on the podium Friday.

“I want to stand on the podium,” Chaplin said. “My mom was walking there today. She said, ‘The flowers (on the podium) are so pretty.’ That’s her favorite flower. I’m going to pick one for her if I get up there.

“I want to go out and get an official, bonafide All-American title.”

Good morning. Or make that good afternoon.

I spent a little more time than usual in bed this morning after being out at John McDonnell Field past 1 a.m. But after trying to get some sleep, I’m back out here for day two of the NCAA Outdoor Championships.

There’s a lot going on today. Ryan Malashock is in Omaha for the College World Series, where Arkansas will be practicing today and meeting with the media. Alex Abrams and I will be out here at track letting you know everything going on out here on day two.

Make sure you keep an eye on the blog for updates from both sides. We also have a special page set up for our track coverage here at at the NCAA meet. You can find it by clicking this link. And on our Twitter pages at @NWAOnlineHogs or @NWARobbie

We’ve got a few things worth reading in today’s paper if you haven’t seen them yet.

• Alex Abrams wrote a feature on Arkansas pitcher Dallas Keuchel and some of the struggles he has had lately.

• Paul Boyd handled our MLB Draft coverage. Four Razorbacks were selected on Wednesday.

We have plenty from track and field, too.

• On the men’s side, the Razorbacks got two of their three long jumpers into tonight’s final, Alex wrote. A little later, Scott MacPherson slipped through to the finals of the 3,000 steeplechase.

• The women’s team had to wait a long time to compete because of a three-hour rain delay. But once they did, Shelise Williams, pole vaulters Katie Stripling and Sarah Landau, and Denise Bargiachi advanced in their events.

We don’t have much space in the newspaper, but wanted to try something new at this event.

Here is a look back on the opening day of the NCAA Outdoor Championships and a look ahead to Thursday.

Wednesday Highlights
Athlete of the Day: Oregon’s Ashton Eaton turned in a brilliant performance during the first day of the decathlon. The 2008 NCAA champ scored 4,367 points, which was an NCAA first-day high. He won the 100, 400 and long jump Wednesday.
Distance of the Day: 26 feet, 11 1/4 inches. Northridge’s Reindell Cole, who was ranked eighth in the nation entering the meet (25-9 1/2), caught everyone’s attention with the day’s top jump on his last attempt.
Time of the Day: 10 seconds. LSU’s Trindon Holliday put up a blistering time in the first round of the 100. The mark was the fourth-fastest time in the country this year and bested Holliday’s top time by .01 seconds.
Quote of the Day: “The last 50 was horrible. I just died,” Arkansas’ Alex McClary said about his run in the 800. But it wasn’t that bad. McClary did qualify for today’s semifinal.

How Arkansas Athletes Fared
Alain Bailey: Advanced to long jump finals after leaping 26 feet, 1 1/2 inches; Mark was the day’s second best.
Denise Bargiachi: Reached the 5,000 final after finishing sixth in her heat in a time of 16:20.35
Tarik Batchelor: Failed to advance in long jump after leaping 25 feet, 3 1/4 inches.
Chris Bilbrew: Posted 1:49.27 in 800 first round, but failed to advance to semifinals
Tara Diebold: Cleared the bar at 12-9 1/2 in the pole vault, but did not qualify for the finals
Christine Kalmer: Posted a time of 16:51.25 in the 5,000, which wasn’t enough to qualify for the finals.
Janice Keppler: Pole vaulter passed at 12-3 1/2, but couldn’t clear the bar at 12-9 1/2
Sarah Landau: Pole vaulter cleared the bar at 13-1 1/2, which was enough to qualify for the finals.
Scott MacPherson: Ran the 3,000 steeplechase in 8:43.96. The time qualified him for the finals
Andy McClary: Posted 1:48.24 time in the first round of the 800; Advanced to semifinals
J-Mee Samuels: Ran the 100 in 10.22 seconds in first round; Did not advance out of the semis later.
Mychael Stewart: Advanced to long jump finals after leaping 25 feet, 6 inches; Grabbed 12th and final spot
Katie Stripling: Cleared the bar in each of her three attempts to qualify for the pole vault finals
Shelise Williams: Finished second in her heat in the 400 (53.35 seconds), qualifying for semifinals

What to Watch For Thursday
1. Oregon’s Galen Rupp will try to win his first title of the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships in the 10K. Rupp has already qualified for the 5K final, which will be run Friday.
2. ASU’s Sarah Stevens looks for the first of three potential titles in the shotput final. Stevens entered the meet ranked in the top 5 in the shot, discus and hammer.
3. Iowa State’s Lisa Koll will try to win her second straight title in the 10K. Koll’s time of 32:43.85 is by far the best this year, making her the runaway favorite Thursday.
4. Weather could affect the meet for the second straight day. According to weather.com, there is a 50 percent chance for precipitation and strong scattered storms.

Razorbacks Competing Thursday
Alain Bailey (Long jump), 4:45 p.m.
Etienne Chaplin (Heptathlon), 11:15 a.m.
Shawn Forrest (10,000), 9:45 p.m.
Alex McClary (800 and 1,500), 7:25 p.m. and 8:10 p.m.
Jillian Rosen (1,500), 7:55 p.m.
Mychael Stewart (Long jump), 4:45 p.m.
James Strang (10,000), 9:45 p.m.
Dorian Ulrey (1,500), 8:10 p.m.
Catherine White, (10,000), 8:55 p.m.

McClary Moves On

Arkansas middle distance runner Alex McClary thought he had just competed in the final race of his collegiate career.
He was convinced that he had failed Wednesday to qualify for the 800-meter semifinals. But when the results were released, his time of 1 minute, 48.24 seconds proved to be just good enough to advance to today’s semifinal.
“I just walked away thinking that was my last race,” McClary said, relieved after learning he had advanced with the 15th-fastest time. The top 18 runners advanced.
Competing in a fast preliminary heat, McClary tried to remain in a pack that included Penn State’s Ryan Foster. Foster’s time of 1:47.57 was the fastest in the round.
McClary struggled down the stretch and nearly tripped over other runners who had stumbled at the finish line.
“I felt really relaxed, and I tried to get a good last 200 (meters); the last 50 was horrible. I just died,” McClary said. “I don’t know. There was a lot of nerves running in front of all these fans.
“I just hope that was good enough to get me through, because if it is, then I know I’ll do better (Thursday).”

Eaton Paces Oregon

Oregon’s Ashton Eaton got the Ducks national title and triple crown hopes off to a strong start, holding a commanding lead in the decathlon after five events.
Eaton, who won the 2008 Outdoor title and was this year’s top qualifier, won three of the five events (100, 400 and long jump) en route to an NCAA first-day decathlon record 4,367 points.
But his big day didn’t come without a small scare. Eaton scratched on his first two attempts in the long jump before recovering to leap 24 feet, 10 1/2 inches on his final chance. Failing to score in the long jump would’ve cost Eaton the national title. It also would’ve damaged Oregon’s hopes of claiming the team crown.
“I had a similar experience last year in (the) Pac-10 (meet), so it really didn’t bother me that much,” Eaton said. “I knew I just had to move back, check my mark when I got close to the boards. That’s what I did.”

Barringer Wins Honda Award

Colorado distance runner Jennifer Barringer, the favorite to win the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Championships, was named the Honda Award winner for track and field Wednesday.
Barringer set the American record in the event (9 minutes, 22.26 seconds) as a member of the U.S. Olympic team in Beijing last summer. She also captured the indoor Big 12 championship in the mile this season with an NCAA-record time of 4:25.91.
Tennessee’s Sarah Bowman, Michigan’s Tiffany Ofili and Texas El Paso’s Blessing Okagbare were also finalists for the Honda Award. Barringer is eligible for the Honda-Broderick Cup, which is given to the college female athlete of the year on June 22 in New York.
Barringer is first gunning for her third NCAA Outdoor steeplechase title this week. She qualified for Friday’s final with a qualifying round time of 9:57.75 Wednesday.

Fast Track

The first round of the 100-meter dash produced some impressive times Wednesday afternoon.
Texas’ Alexandria Anderson ran the event in 11.02 seconds, which was announced as the fourth fastest time in the nation this year.
On the men’s side, LSU sprinter Trindon Holliday ran his 100 in 10.02 seconds. Once again, it was announced as the fourth fastest men’s time in the country this year.

Arkansas pole vaulter Katie Stripling is getting to the routine now. But it doesn’t mean she likes it.

Compete in a meet at John McDonnell Field. Sit through a rain delay.

“Every home meet we’ve had there this year,” Stripling said. “We’ve had rain delays every meet. It’s getting kind of old.”

The three-hour wait didn’t keep Stripling and teammate Sarah Landau from advancing to the pole vault finals late Wednesday night, though. Stripling, one of the favorites in the event, was one of 10 pole vaulters to clear the bar at 13 feet, 5 1/4 inches. Landau’s best vault was 13-1 1/2, which was good enough to secure one of 15 spots in the field.

The two were part of Arkansas’ four-person crew in the event. Tara Diebold and Janice Keppler also competed in the pole vault semifinals on Wednesday night, but did not advance. All four had to wait a long, long time to compete, though.

Stripling said the crew spent three hours in Bud Walton Arena waiting out the rain. They sat in chairs, talked and listened to music. They got up and walked the stairs a few times to stay loose, but, “mostly we sat there and waited.”

But they made the best of it when they finally got to compete.

“I think it would’ve been a lot better if we actually competed when we were supposed to,” Stripling said. “It went pretty good, considering we had a three-hour delay.”

The women’s team closed the night with the 5,000. Arkansas’ Denise Bargiachi, one of two Razorbacks to run in the race, qualified for the finals by finishing sixth in her heat. She ran the race in 16:20.35.