The top news stories published by the University of Arkansas during 2016 range from Razorback Olympians to distinguished lecturers to the mystery of Planet X. The U of A news site averages about 3,500 readers each day, but some stories catch everyone's attention.

Here they are ranked by how many pageviews they received this year.

1. Arkansas Razorbacks Qualify for 2016 Olympics

Eighteen current and former Razorbacks headed to Rio de Janeiro to compete in the 2016 Olympiad. Omar McLeod and Taylor Ellis-Watson won gold medals while Sandi Morris and Veronica Campbell-Brown won silver medals. The University of Arkansas is now 39th among universities in terms of numbers of Olympic medals won. 16,150 views

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2. Bid Day for Panhellenic Recruitment

More than 1,600 women participated in sorority recruitment during the fall of 2016, and Bid Day was held at the Chi Omega Greek Theatre. The ceremonies were broadcast live via the student television station UATV and its website uatvonline.net. 13,403 views

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3. U of A Researcher Links Mass Extinctions to 'Planet X'

Periodic mass extinctions on Earth, as indicated in the global fossil record, could be linked to a suspected ninth planet, according to research published by Daniel Whitmire, a faculty member of the University of Arkansas Department of Mathematical Sciences. Whitmire, a retired professor of astrophysics now working as a math instructor, published findings in the January issue of Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society that the as-yet-undiscovered “Planet X” could trigger comet showers linked to mass extinctions on Earth. 10,404 views

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4. Fall 2016 Homecoming Celebration Dates

When the schedule for the 2016 Homecoming was announced, it picked up readership from students on campus and from alumni off campus who planned to return for the festivities, which included a parade, a 5K run and announcement of the Homecoming court. 9,935 views

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5. Cole Family Selected as 2016 Family of Year

The 2016 Family of the Year has deep roots at the University of Arkansas. Nominated by Madison Cole, the Cole family of Conway includes four grandparents, both parents, all six aunts and uncles, and Madison's brother and sister-in-law who earned degrees, representing four academic colleges, three fraternities and four sororities. 9,129 views

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6. Trey O'Dell to Appear on The Voice

Trey O’Dell first performed in public as an elementary student, portraying Elvis on a school stage in his hometown. In March, he was one of the few chosen from more than 40,000 auditions to perform on The Voice before a nationwide audience. 7,864 views

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7. Soccer Legend Abby Wambach Talks on Campus

Abby Wambach, the American soccer icon who retired a year ago after dominating the game for 15 years, spoke at Bud Walton Arena on the University of Arkansas campus as part of the student-sponsored Distinguished Lecture Series. In the 2004 and 2012 Olympics she led the USA team in scoring and led the team to gold medals both years. 6,324 views

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8. Razorbacks Classics

In the spring, the Arkansas Alumni Association selected 22 graduating students — 11 women and 11 men — to be designated as Razorback Classics, based on academic excellence, leadership and campus or community involvement. From the Razorback Classics, two students — Ailon Haileyesus and Tanner Bone — were chosen for Senior Honor Citations. 6,235 views

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9. Board Approves Reynolds Razorback Stadium Renovation

Last June, the University of Arkansas Board of Trustees approved a $160 million stadium renovation and north end zone addition that will further enhance the Home of the Razorbacks for the benefit of all fans. 5,907 views

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10. Graduate Student Developing Heated System for Runways

Joseph Daniels, a doctoral student in civil engineering, is studying heated pavement systems for airfields with the idea of incorporating wiring into concrete. Solar energy would be stored in battery banks that would then transfer heat through the wires to warm the pavement and melt snow and ice. 4,726 views

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Other Top Headlines of the Year

11. University of Arkansas Honors College Selects 2016 Bodenhamer Fellows — 4,532

12. U of A Ranked 65th Among U.S. Public Colleges and Universities — 4,369

13. Internet Phenomenon Brandon Stanton to Speak at U of A — 4,226

14. Razorback Marching Band Feature Twirler Wins National Titles — 4,161

15. U of A Enrollment Tops 27,000, With Record Number of Arkansas Freshmen — 3,513