This state has more than 30 athletes competing in the Olympics

PARIS (KNWA) — Nearly three dozen Arkansas-affiliated athletes are in Paris to compete in track and field events at the Olympic Games.

Track & field events officially started Thursday with the race walk, but events in Stade de France start on Friday.

Former Arkansas Razorbacks assistant track and field coach and current Kansas State Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Travis Geopfert spoke with Alyssa Orange from NewsNation affiliate KNWA about the games.

Geopfert has coached 15 Olympians in his career including eight in the Paris Olympics.

Watch his full interview in the player above.

Here are some of the Arkansas-affiliated track & field athletes set to compete in Paris along with the schedules of their events:

Jarrion Lawson – Long Jump

The former Razorback competed in Rio de Janeiro in 2016 and nearly won a gold medal but his fingertips touched the sand before landing on his final jump.

The Texarkana, Texas native spoke with Alyssa Orange about what life is like in the Olympic Village and his relationship with Geopfert.

Schedule :

• 4:00 a.m. CST on August 4: Qualifying Round
• 1:20 p.m. CST on August 6: Final Round

Jaydon Hibbert – Triple Jump

The 19-year-old Jamaican is competing in his first Olympics and has set collegiate, Jamaican and world records in his young career.

In December 2023, Hibbert won the Bowerman Award , given to the most outstanding male or female athlete for the year, as a freshman at the University of Arkansas.

Hibbert spoke about living his dream of being an Olympian and how he’s feeling going into competition.

Schedule :

• 12:15 p.m. on August 7: Triple Jump Qualifying Round
  1:10 p.m. on August 9: Triple Jump Final

Wayne Pinnock – Long Jump

Pinnock will join former Razorback Jarrion Lawson in the long jump competition.

The Jamaican won the silver medal at the 2023 World Athletics Championships in the long jump and announced in June he would turn pro for an opportunity with Puma.

Pinnock spoke about how he feels going into the competition and staying focused.

Schedule :

• 4:00 a.m. CST on August 4: Qualifying Round
• 1:20 p.m. CST on August 6: Final Round

Romaine Beckford – High Jump

Beckford enters the Olympics as both the NCAA Indoor and Outdoor champion in the high jump.

He also won North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC) U23 Championships in San Jose in the high jump.

Beckford spoke about his growing Olympic pin collection and how he feels going into the competition.

For a full schedule of the Arkansas-affiliated athletes competing in the Paris Olympics, visit the Arkansas Razorback Athletics website .

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