John McDonnell's (Crossmolina, Co. Mayo) Arkansas Razorback squad is poised to win 12th National Championships this November in Terre Haute, Indiana. Last season they season they placed third with an inexperienced transitional team. This year they will arrive a co-favourite with Stanford. The Razorbacks began the season ranked third and behind Colorado and the aforementioned Stanford. Colorado lost US phenom Dathan Ritzenheim who placed fourth last year as a freshman to injury and Arkansas has been firmly ensconced in the #2 position waiting to pounce on Stanford. Arkansas has one of the most potent 1-2 runners in the NCAA with Alistair Cragg, who declared for Ireland last year and Daniel Lincoln, the reigning NCAA 3,000m steeplechase champion (8.29.16) and a 5k best of 13.36.12. Cragg finished third last year in the NCAA X-C Championships (29.10) and is the reigning NCAA Indoor 5k Champion (13.49.80). Dublin born Westley Alkin has been running well this season in the #4 though #6 spot for the team and will hope to be a member of the team's Top 7 at the Championships.

Arkansas competed at the Cowboy Jamboree in Stillwater, Oklahoma on 5th October where they easily won the team title with 31 points. Cragg led the Razorbacks winning the 8k-race in 23.53. Westley Alkin was Arkansas 5th runner placing 12th in 24.47.

Westley Alkin placed 4th 24:36.1 at the Missouri Southern Invitational on 21st September in Joplin, Missouri where the Razorbacks won the team title with 24 points.

Arkansas opened the season on 7th September winning the Arkansas Invitational with 27 points. Alkin placed third in 20.25.