Amber Anning breaks British 200m record, distance medley just misses UA record

FAYETTEVILLE – The first day of the Razorback Invitational featured a 200m British record by Amber Anning while the Arkansas distance medley relay just missed the school record by 0.27 of a second.

Anning won her section of the 200m in 22.60 to place second overall to a 22.58 by South Carolina’s JaMeesia Ford, who just missed the meet record of 22.53 set by LSU’s Favour Ofili last year.

Anning’s performance broke the 1999 British record of 22.83 set by Katherine Merry. On the UA all-time list, Anning ranks behind the 22.43 school record set by Veronica Campbell in 2004. Anning also ranks No. 12 on the European all-time list.

Razorback freshman Shawnti Jackson won another section of the 200m in a career best of 22.77 and moved to No. 3 on the UA all-time list. While Ford moved to equal No. 4 on the world U20 all-time list and No. 3 on the US U20 all-time list, Jackson occupies positions No. 9 and No. 6, respectively.

Closing out the first day of the Razorback Invitational, Arkansas and Oregon waged another scintillating race. The Ducks won in 10:47.50, the second fastest collegiate time ever, to better the facility record of 10:49.07 Oregon set in 2023 as well as the meet record of 10:51.63 established by Arkansas in 2022.

Only the collegiate record of 10:46.62 set by Washington in 2023 is faster than the Ducks effort.

Arkansas finished second in 10:49.41, the eighth best indoor performance all-time and just shy of the school record 10:49.14 set in 2023 at the NCAA Championships. Florida placed third in 10:52.06.

The Razorback foursome included Tiana LoStracco (3:18.34), Ashanti Denton (51.95), Ainsley Erzen (2:03.62), and Mary Ellen Eudaly (4:35.50). Oregon countered with splits of 3:15.73, 52.64, 2:05.16, and 4:33.97 from a crew of Klaudia Kazimierska, Ella Clayton, Ella Nelson, and Maddy Elmore.

Eudaly, who ran first leg on the Arkansas school record last year, noted: “It was so fun running the 1,200 last year and getting to be part of the relay. I always paid close attention to Lauren Gregory when she ran the anchor leg. I just like to be in this position. My teammates set me up so well. I just got behind the Oregon girl, hung on for dear life, and let her pull me.”

Nia Robinson came within a half inch of the UA long jump record with a mark of 21-6.25 (6.56). Taliyah Brooks, who set the school record of 21-6.75 (6.57) in 2018, placed sixth with a leap of 21-0.5 (6.41).

The competitive long jump was claimed by Tara Davis-Woodhall with an impressive 22-2.25 (6.76), which is third best in the world this season.

Florida’s Claire Bryant was runner-up with a 21-6.25 mark as she and Robinson both registered the same distance in round five. They even had equal secondary bests of 21-4.25 (6.51) in round three.

Going to the third best mark of their respective series, Bryant’s 21-2.75 (6.47) bettered Robinson’s third best effort of 20-11.25 (6.38) that they each set in round four.

Robinson bettered her previous indoor best of 21-0.75 (6.42) as well as her outdoor best of 21-11.5 (6.69) while moving to No. 10 on the Jamaican indoor all-time list.

Sara Van Aken established a career best score of 3,885 points to place 11 in the pentathlon, improving upon her 3,850 score.

Additional times in the 200m for the Razorbacks included a career best of 23.02 for Rosey Effiong as she moved to No. 9 on the UA all-time list. Effiong was followed by Joanne Reid (23.30), Nickisha Pryce (23.44), MeKenze Kelley (23.62), and Ariane Linton (23.88).

Rachel Glenn finished third in the high jump and her height of 5-11.5 (1.82) is No. 4 on the UA all-time list. Sydney Billington cleared 5-9.75 (1.77) to place fifth.

Amanda Fassold led the Razorback crew in the pole vault, tying for fourth place with a 13-8.5 (4.18) clearance. Hannah Estes placed sixth with a 13-4.5 (4.08) that was matched by Marin Chamberlin in sixth place.