A big leap for Lions' Dunn

The University of Arkansas is the mecca of men's track and field in the United States. A sign heading into Fayetteville, Ark., proclaims it the “Track Capital of the World.”

With 42 NCAA indoor and outdoor titles, it's hard to argue with the Razorbacks.

The 2010-11 roster includes runners, throwers and jumpers from Boston, Alabama, Texas and New York. There are athletes from Ghana, Jamaica and France. There is a high jumper from Iowa (Noah Kittelson of Indianola).

Next year there will be two Iowans on that roster.

Linn-Mar senior Kyle Dunn signed with the Razorbacks last week, on a day dedicated mainly to football players and, this year, lost in a blizzard.

But Dunn's signing with Arkansas is on the same level of Christian French of Kennedy signing with Oregon to play football or Williamsburg's Austin Blythe making his football commitment to Iowa official.

This is a big step to a big-time program.

“They've got everything a track athlete will need,” Dunn said.

Dunn is a talented runner, a state champion in the 400-meter hurdles and 400 dash last spring, a runner-up in the 110 high hurdles.

“We like how competitive he is,” Arkansas Coach Chris Bucknam said in a phone interview from a meet in New York on Friday. “He enjoys everything about track and field. He's not afraid to train.”

Dunn, 18, took visits to Iowa, Baylor, Illinois and Arkansas, and considered Stanford. He was on the national radar, but he also had a connection to Bucknam.

Outside facilities that are “second to none” and a much longer outdoor training season than Midwest programs can offer, Bucknam had a key with his ties to the University of Northern Iowa and Dunn's coach at Linn-Mar.

“Bucky” coached at UNI for 29 years, the last 25 as head coach. His first season as an assistant to Lynn King was 1979-80 and the senior middle distance captain on that team was Ken Hopkins of Cedar Rapids.

Hopkins now is head coach at Linn-Mar.

“We obviously know the state pretty well,” Bucknam said. “And it's nice to count on that UNI connection.”

But friendships only go so far. Dunn is a Razorback because he can run and hurdle with the best.

“Obviously, he's a talent,” Bucknam said. “His marks and his range ... we really like him ... we feel pretty lucky to get him.”

Bucknam isn't afraid to return to Iowa and try to pluck some of the state's best. He built the UNI program into a consistent Top 25 team nationally with athletes who “endured” cold winters, rainy springs and short seasons.

“Obviously we know that state pretty well,” he said, mentioning assistants Doug Case and Travis Geopfert, a pair of former Iowa preps who also were with him at UNI.

Dunn said the decision was tough and, frankly, knew little about the Razorbacks until he did some research.

“It was hard just to pick my five visits,” he said. “I just like the coaches (at Arkansas) ... they were really down to earth.”

He wants to make an impact when he steps foot on campus next fall, hopefully running on the Razorbacks' 1600 relay. But, he said. first things first. He wants to defend his state titles and get that 110 crown, too.

“I'm really excited about this (high school) season,” he said. “I'm trying to put Arkansas on the back burner.”