Arkansas announces additions in fall national signing period

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas announced the addition of three athletes to the Razorback women’s track and field program during the fall national signing period. They include Maddie Gear of Tampa, Florida; Rachel Cornell of Jenks, Oklahoma; and Ruby Little of Brookhaven, Georgia.

Gear, who attends Cambridge School in Florida, is a cousin of Arkansas alum Krissy Gear, a six-time All-American while with the Razorbacks who recently won the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2023 USATF Championships.

During the 2023 track and field season Gear claimed gold in the 1,600m at the Florida 1A State meet with a career best of 4:49.68 and added a sixth place finish in the 3,200m (11:01.75). Earlier in the season she finished runner-up in the Florida Relays 1,600m with a 4:56.18 and set a career best of 10:45.10 in 3,200m to place fourth at the Florida State Relays.

In 2022, Gear earned a silver medal in the 3,200m and placed fifth in 1,600m at the Florida 1A State meet. She set a mile PR of 4:57.43 in placing fourth at the Music City Track Carnival in the summer. As a sophomore in cross country during 2022, Gear finished second in the Florida 1A State Championship posting a time of 18:09.2 on the 5,000m course.

Cornell, who attends Jenks High School in Oklahoma, earned a bronze medal in the 400m with a career best of 56.69 at the 2023 Oklahoma 6A State Championship. Indoors, Cornell claimed an 800m victory at the Oklahoma HS Indoor Championship and ran on the winning 4 x 400m relay.

Running in her first season of cross country this fall, Cornell finished 41st at the State meet as Jenks placed third in team scoring. As a sophomore in 2022, she collected a bronze medal in the 400m at the Oklahoma 6A State meet as was a member of three medal relays – gold in 4 x 400m, silver in 4 x 200m, and bronze in 4 x 100m.

Little, who attends Marish High School in Georgia, has been part of three consecutive State championship teams in cross country. As a freshman in 2021, Little claimed the individual Georgia 4A State title and led Marist to the team title as they scored 17 points.

A bronze medalist in 2022 and silver medalist in 2023 at the Georgia 6A State meet, Little was the top finisher on the Marist state champion teams.

As a freshman during the track season, Little won the 3,200m at the Georgia 4A State meet and was a bronze medalist in the 1,600m. She defended her 4A State title at 3,200m in 2022 and improved to silver medalist in the 1,600m. Little competed at the adidas Outdoor Nationals and placed seventh in the 2 mile run.

Competing in the Georgia 6A State meet in 2023, Little collected a silver medal in the 1,600m and finished fifth in the 3,200m with times of 5:18.02 and 11:00.91. She added a State silver medal as a member of the 4 x 800m relay.