Bekeley Prep senior Auston Chen, an all-county performer in the discus and bronze medalist at last summer’s Junior Olympic National Championships for the decathlon, has made a verbal commitment to the University of Arkansas.

Chen said his decision to join the Razorbacks was an easy one. Arkansas has won a total of 10 NCAA titles in outdoor track, 19 indoors and produced 27 Olympians in the sport. Chen, who has a decathlon personal best of 6,473 points and was third in the Class 2A state finals for the discus with a lifetime best of 171 feet, said he was also sold on Arkansas after taking an official visit there earlier this year.

“It’s just a beautiful campus and they have a good business school, which I’m interested in,” Chen said. “The guys on the track team were great to me while I was there and I really like the [multi-events] coach, Travis Geopfert.”

When track begins next spring, Chen will be the area’s top returning thrower. Bteween now and then, he says he will continue to train but will also compete on Berkeley’s soccer team, which last season reached the state finals. He says he plays to play stopper for the Bucs.