FAYETTEVILLE – Summer signings for the Razorbacks continue with the addition of Yaseen Abdalla, Karamoko Sacko, and Jaden Smith to the Arkansas roster for the 2024-25 season.
Distance runner Abdalla and sprinter Smith are transfers while 110m hurdler Sacko is an incoming prep.
Abdalla, who has competed at Texas and Tennessee collegiately, will represent Sudan in the marathon at the Paris Olympics. The marathon will be held on Saturday, August 10.
A two-time All-America in cross country, Abdalla placed 33rd in 2022 with Tennessee and 32nd in 2021 with Texas. He joins a Razorback squad that had a pair of All-Americans in Patrick Kiprop and Kirami Yego last fall when Arkansas registered another podium finish in placing fourth at the NCAA Championships.
On the track, Abdalla has produced solid times over a range of distances from 1,500m to 10,000m. His collegiate bests include 3:43.59 (1,500m), 8:13.93 (3,000m), 13:39.15 (5,000m), and 28:33.38 (10,000m).
Indoors, Abdalla has posted bests of 3:57.53 (Mile), 7:42.23 (3,000m), and 13:33.26 (5,000m).
With Tennessee, Abdalla collected silver in the SEC Indoor 3,000m and 5,000m along with silver and bronze in the SEC Outdoor 10,000m. While at Texas, he was a Big 12 Indoor champion at 5,000m and bronze medalist in the 3,000m as well as a Big 12 Outdoor silver medalist in the 5,000m
Abdalla ran anchor leg (3:55.58) for Texas when they won the distance medley relay at the 2022 NCAA Indoor Championships in 9:25.20.
Competing at Northfield High School in Denver, Sacko captured the Colorado 4A State title in the 110m hurdles with his two fastest times of his career at that point. He clocked 13.45 in the prelims and improved to 13.43 in the final.
Sacko also finished runner-up in the 100m (10.67) and 200m (21.76) at the Colorado 4A State meet. In previous State meets, he was a member of three winning relays (4 x 100 twice, 4 x 200) and one runner-up (4 x 200).
Competing in the Brooks PR Invitational, Sacko improved his career best over 39 inch hurdles to 13.31 for the victory in the 110m hurdles.
Smith joins the Razorbacks from San Jose State, where he produced collegiate marks of 45.40 (400m), 20.63 (200m), and 10.78 (100m). In high school, Smith attended St. John Bosco in Los Angeles.
In 2024, Smith swept the 200m and 400m titles during the Mountain West Championships with career best times of 20.63 and 45.40. He was also a member of the winning 4 x 100m and 4 x 400m relays.
Smith finished 16th in the 400m at the NCAA Championships and ran on the 4 x 100m relay that finished eighth in the semifinal (38.69) to advance to the final.
Indoors, Smith won the 400m at the 2024 Mountain West Championships with an indoor best of 46.08 and finished fourth in the 200m (21.07). He also ran on the runner-up 4 x 400m relay.
