Abdalla reclaims UA 5k record, Bailey sets world-leading 400m
FAYETTEVILLE – Razorback Yaseen Abdalla reclaimed his Arkansas school record in the 5,000m with an amazing time of 13 minutes, 9.99 seconds at the Valentine Invitational hosted by Boston University.
On the first day of the Tyson Invitational, distance speed was on display in the 3,000m with Patrick Kiprop and Reuben Reina moving to No. 4 and No. 5 on the UA all-time list with times of 7:43.29 and 7:44.92 as they placed second and third behind Oklahoma State’s Denis Kipngetich winning effort of 7:42.09.
The trio currently rank 13-14-15 on the collegiate list for this season.
In Boston, Abdalla was the top collegian in placing third behind a world record of 12:44.09 by American Grant Fisher while Jimmy Gressier of France was runner-up in 12:54.92. Fisher bettered the world record of 12:49.60 set by Ethiopia’s Kenesia Bekele in 2004 while Gressier moved to No. 7 performer on the world all-time list.
Abdalla’s effort bettered the 13:11.67 Arkansas record set by Patrick Kiprop in Boston two weeks ago and ranks as the No. 8 performer with the No. 9 performance on the collegiate all-time list. It also improves his Sudan national record.
In the 3,000m at Tyson, Arkansas alum Austen Dalquist placed third in a career best of 7:45.38 while Razorback Brian Masai placed eighth in a career best of 7:49.38 to move to No. 9 on the UA all-time list.
Arkansas alum Chris Bailey generated an impressive career best of 44.70 in winning the 400m with a world-leading time. Bailey is now the No. 5 performer with the No. 7 performance on the world all-time list. Among Americans he is the No. 4 performer with the No. 5 performance.
Bailey broke the meet record of 44.93 set by LaShawn Merritt in 2005.
A pair of career best times were also produced by Razorbacks TJ Tomlyanovich and Brandon Battle in the 400m. Tomlyanovich placed second to Bailey in 45.61, which is No. 5 on the UA all-time list, and Brandon Battle won another section and finished third overall in 45.77, which is No. 6 on the UA all-time list. Freshman Jaden Smith placed fourth in 45.89.
Jordan Anthony equaled his season best of 6.57 in the 60m prelims, which ranks No. 2 on the UA all-time list behind the Razorback record of 6.56.
In the 60m hurdles, Vashaun Vascianna equaled his career best of 7.63 in the prelims which is equal No. 3 on the UA all-time list. In the semifinal Brevin Sims posted a 7.76 and then finished fourth in the final at 7.83 behind alum Elijah Morris, who was third in 7.81.
Uroy Ryan set a career best of 25-10.25 (7.88) to place fourth in the long jump. Jamaica’s Tajay Gayle won with a leap of 26-9 (8.15) as Oklahoma’s Nikaoli Williams finished second with a 26-3.75 (8.02). Arkansas alum LaQuan Nairn finished third with a mark of 25-10.75 (7.89).
