UA to host first international track competition
FAYETTEVILLE — It’s not often that Arkansas’ track and field program experiences a “first,” but that is the case this weekend.
The University of Arkansas is hosting the 23rd Thorpe Cup, a head- to- head heptathlon/ decathlon competition between the United States and Germany. It is the first time the Razorbacks have hosted an international competition.
For Arkansas assistant track coach Travis Geopfert, who has participated and coached in the Thorpe Cup, it is an opportunity to showcase Fayetteville and possibly host larger events.
“Oregon gets ‘ TrackTown USA,’ and they do a fantastic job, but we are the ‘ Track Capital of the World,’ ” Geopfert said. “What a great way to push that brand moving
forward, and hopefully this opens some more doors for us in the future.”
Since it was created in 1993, the Thorpe Cup has served as a developmental competition for young athletes on the cusp of making the Olympic team. On the men’s side, nine American and seven German Olympians have participated in the decathlon through the years.
The women’s heptathlon was added in 2006, and it also features Olympians. The 2014 individual winner, Barbara Nwaba, was the top finisher at the Olympic Trials and will represent the U.S. at next month’s games in Rio.
Former Arkansas All- American Alex Gochenour, who finished fourth at this year’s NCAA Outdoor Championships and helped the Razorbacks win their second national title, will compete this weekend.
Although she was disappointed by her 13th- place finish at the Olympic Trials, Gochenour said she accomplished one of her top goals by making the seven- member heptathlon team for the Thorpe Cup.
“I knew, if everything went right, I could try to give the Olympic team a shot, but I had a great shot of making this team,” Gochenour said. “That was in the back of my mind all season.”
The scores of the top- five finishers on each team will be added to determine the team champion. The U. S. men lead the all- time series, 13- 9, but Germany has won six in a row. The U. S. women have won six consecutive and lead the series, 7- 3.
Admission is free and fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs to sit on the grass infield.
“You’ll be 10 feet away from a guy taking a full- out long jump and know what it feels like to be right there and witness that type of athleticism up close and personal,” Geopfert said. “[ It’s] almost a tailgating atmosphere while you’re watching some track and field.”