Razorbacks Earn Top 25 National Finish in Learfield Sports Directors Cup

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas moved up into the top 25 in the final Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup standings for the third time in four years thanks to a strong finish by the Razorbacks’ spring sports teams.

The Razorbacks finished No. 24 with 726.75 points in the final standings released today by the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics.

Arkansas has finished in the top 25 of the Learfield Sports Directors' Cup in three of the past four years. The Razorbacks also finished in the top 25 in 2007-08 (24th) and in 2008-09 (25th). It is the first time in school history Arkansas has finished in the top 25 three times in a four year period.

"Congratulations to our coaches, student-athletes and staff for earning national recognition as one of the top 25 all-sports programs in intercollegiate athletics,” Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Jeff Long said. “Being ranked among the nation’s best, speaks to the depth and breadth of the Razorback program. The outstanding team and individual athletic accomplishments of our more than 460 student-athletes lifted our program to a new standard of sustained success in the Directors’ Cup. Combined with our student-athletes’ academic success and community service efforts, 2010-11 has been another exceptional year for Razorback Athletics.”

Arkansas scored a total of 361.75 points in the spring season, including high point performances from several Razorback teams who competed and placed in NCAA competition.

Shauna Estes-Taylor and the women’s golf team scored a spring high 74.24 points after earning a program-best tie for fifth place at the NCAA Championship.

The Razorback men’s golf team also advanced to the NCAA Championship in Oklahoma. Brad McMakin’s squad earned 50 points for a 15th-place showing.

Dave Van Horn led the baseball Razorbacks to a runner-up finish at the NCAA Tempe Regional earning 50 points.

Men’s and women’s track and field both scored in the 60s with Chris Bucknam’s men’s team counting 66.75 points after tieing for a 10th place finish and Lance Harter’s women’s team earning 60.75 points with a 14th place finish at the NCAA Championships.

Michael Hegarty’s women’s tennis team earned 50 points after a 17th place NCAA finish to round out the Razorbacks’ spring scoring.

The Razorbacks moved up into the top 25 after standing at No. 38 at the conclusion of the winter sport tally. Arkansas scored 240.5 points in the winter, led by a ninth place finish by the Razorback gymnastics team earning 69 points.

Arkansas’ women’s indoor track team added 80 points followed by 50.5 points from the men’s team. Jeff Poppell led the Razorback swimming and diving team to a 32nd place showing for 41 points.

The Razorbacks had two teams score points in the fall paced by Arkansas’ first-ever Bowl Championship Series appearance at the Allstate Sugar Bowl, good for 64.5 points. Men’s cross country added a 10th place finish at the NCAA Championship for 60 points.

The Directors' Cup program has been tracking the success of the nation's top intercollegiate athletics programs since 1993-94.

The Learfield Sports Directors’ Cup began as a combined effort between the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics and USA Today with points awarded based on an institution’s finish in up to 20 sports, 10 women’s and 10 men’s sports.

For more information regarding Razorback athletics or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.