Eight announced for induction

Eight new members will be inducted into the Arkansas Track & Field Hall of Fame during a banquet at 6:30 p.m. on May 31 at the Wyndham Riverfront Hotel in North Little Rock.

The class will include Lonnie Greene, Jim Patchell, John Mackey, Diane Treadway, Nate Krig, Andrew Irwin, Whitney Jones and Rod Newton.

Greene, currently the head coach at the University of Kentucky, spent 16 years at the University of Arkansas coaching women’s sprints, hurdles and jumps.

Patchell, a former sprinter and hurdler at Arkansas State University, returned to his alma mater in 2011 and currently serves as the director of track and field and cross country. He also coached at Tulane and Campbell before returning to ASU.

Mackey, a former coach at Corning High School and Mansfield High School, was named the Arkansas Activities Association girls track and field coach of the year twice in his career. His 2010 team also earned the Lowell Manning Award as the outstanding track program in the state.

Treadway earned NAIA All-American honors in cross country and outdoor track while at Arkansas College, now Lyon. She also coached Batesville High School to seven consecutive state championships in girls cross country.

Krig was an honorable mention All-American in 1969 while at the University of Central Arkansas. He set school and Arkansas Intercollegiate Conference records in the 100 yards and 220 yards.

Irwin, a pole vaulter at Mount Ida High School and UA, won the Meet of Champions twice and set the national high school indoor record at 17 feet, 9 1 /4 inches. He is also a three-time SEC Indoor champion and two-time SEC Outdoor champ, setting the school record of 18-9 1 /4.

Jones, of Searcy High School and UA, won the state title three times in the 100 meters, 200 meters, long jump and triple jump. At UA she was a 15-time All-American and four-time SEC champion.

Newton won the state high jump competition twice while at Crossett High School before competing at Wallace State College and Mississippi State University. He earned junior college All-American honors twice and set the MSU school record in high jump while earning All-SEC honors. He also participated in the 2000 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Tickets for the banquet are $50 per person ($52 if purchased by credit card) or $400 for a table of 8. Orders for tickets should be mailed to Leon White, 34 Margeaux Drive, Little Rock, Ark., 72223, or emailed to leonandbethwhite@gmail.com and must be received by May 26 to be guaranteed.