FAYETTEVILLE -- The dozenth perhaps can't quite match the thrill of the first.

It does comes close, Razorbacks cross country/track Coach Chris Bucknam said after nationally No. 3 Arkansas won the SEC Men's Cross Country Championship 38-52 over runner-up Alabama last Friday in College Station,Texas.

Following the late and legendary John McDonnell, retired in 2008 coaching 84 Southwest Conference and SEC titles and an official 50 Indoor, Outdoor and Cross Country national championships, Bucknam built a dynasty of his own.

It took time. Arkansas was third in Bucknam's 2008 SEC Cross Country debut.

McDonnell's men won SWC and SEC Cross Country Championships from 1974-2007.

"The first one was special, no question," Bucknam said Tuesday. "We were third my first season, second in 2009, then got over the hump in 2010.