Arkansas breaks distance medley relay school record

FAYETTEVILLE – A school record in the distance medley relay and a debut performance in the 800m by Britton Wilson were Razorback highlights during the Arkansas Qualifier held Friday at Randal Tyson Track Center.

Eager to improve their status on the 2023 collegiate list in the distance medley relay on a weekend where teams load up in the event, Arkansas set a school record of 10:49.14 as runner-up to Oregon’s 10.49.07.

Wilson won the 800m in a time of 2:02.13, which is No. 3 on the UA all-time list, during her debut in the event and set a meet record. She bettered the mark of 2:02.88 set by Stephanie Bruce (Nike) in 2016.

“We were running for our lives in order to get a ticket to the national meet in the relay,” noted Arkansas women’s head coach Lance Harter. “We had a lot of people rise up to out-perform our wildest guesstimate. We ran a new school record and its currently No. 3 in the nation.

“Probably the showcase of the afternoon was Britton Wilson running the first 800 of her life and to run 2:02 low is just absolutely remarkable. Again, it’s a testament to how special an athlete she is.”

The Ducks set a facility record in the distance medley relay, topping the 10:51.63 set by the Razorbacks in 2022. The current Arkansas crew bettered the UA record of 10:51.37 that claimed the NCAA title in 2002.

BYU finished third in 10:49.24 with Oklahoma State fourth at 10:50.65 and Kentucky fifth in 10:53.45.

The all-time collegiate list, which is headed by a 10:46.62 set by Washington this season, had additions in the No. 3 performer spot by Arkansas, while Oregon has a better time of 10:48.77 from 2017 and produced the No. 3 performance. BYU moved to No. 4, Oklahoma State is No. 5, and Kentucky is No. 8.

The Razorback foursome included Mary Ellen Eudaly (3:20.56), Amber Anning (52.47), Lainey Quandt (2:05.88) and Lauren Gregory (4:30.23).

“It’s so awesome, and I’m so humble and thankful to be part of this relay and the Arkansas program in general,” said freshman Eudaly. “It’s so much fun to race with all these girls.

“The 1,200 is fast and it hurts. Everyone just gets out and goes. I was tucking in behind people and just holding on wanting to get the baton to the next person. It was so much fun, and it brings out the team environment, which is why track and cross country are so fun.”

Oregon countered with splits of 3:17.17, 52.94, 2:08.28, and 4:30.68 from a crew of Klaudia Kazimierska, Ella Clayton, Mia Moerck, and Izzy Thornton-Bott.

In fourth place after the first leg, Arkansas regained some real estate as Anning posted the quickest 400m split of the field and moved the Razorbacks into second place. Quandt, who recently lowered her 800m career best to 2:06.35 at the Tyson Invitational, improved again with her split.

“From Mary Ellen to Amber, who ran a very physical 400, to Lainey, who runs a life-time best to keep us in the hunt and give Lauren a chance to run people down.”

Heading into the final leg, Arkansas was in fourth place behind BYU, Kentucky, and Oregon. Gregory made a steady challenge as her split was the fastest among the teams over the 1,600m portion.

“We had the goal in mind to qualify for nationals with a time that we thought we needed,” noted Gregory. “When we ran the school record last year, we were shooting for that school record. But it’s cool to see that you can reframe the team, and we’re so deep, you just fill the positions again. We just rock it every year.

“After watching the first three legs, I know I have to do my job. I like being the anchor. I enjoy watching it happen and then I get to go.”

In setting a meet record in the 800m, Wilson defeated a field that included Arkansas alum Shafiqua Malone (2:02.46) along with Houston’s Kelly-Ann Beckford (2:02.59) and Oregon’s >> Ella Nelson (2:06.51).

Wilson posted splits of 27.39, 29.30 (56.69), 32.54 (1:29.23), and 32.90 as she ran behind Shamier Little through 600m of the race. Little’s splits were 27.22, 29.24 (56.46), 32.48 (1:28.94).

Razorbacks racing in other sections of the 800m included Paris Peoples (2:07.64 PR), Katie McCune (2:08.13 PR), Ainsley Erzen (2:08.45), Chachi Gonzales (2:10.37 PR), and Carmie Prinsloo (2:10.86). Overall, they placed 5-6-7-9-11 among the field.

Joanne Reid set a career best of 51.88 in the 400m, moving to No. 7 on the UA all-time list, as she placed second overall by 0.002 of a second to Jamaica’s Leah Anderson, who ran in a different section. They both bettered the meet record of 52.36 set in 2022 by USC’s Kimberly Harris.

Ashanti Denton ran another career best in placing fourth with a 52.56 with Aaliyah Pyatt (52.72) and Tiana Wilson (53.48) placing fifth and seventh, respectively.

Amanda Fassold registered another pole vault win this season, clearing 14-9 (4.50) and attempting 15-1.5 (4.61). Bailee McCorkle cleared a season best of 13-9.25 (4.20) as runner-up while Kaitlyn Banas finished eighth at 13-1.5 (4.00).

In the 60m hurdles, Daszay Freeman won with a time of 8.14 seconds with teammates Yoveinny Mota runner-up at 8.18 and Madison Langley-Walker sixth with an 8.33.

Arkansas posted a 1-2 finish in the 200m as Ariane Linton win in 23.58 with T. Wilson runner-up at 24.05.

Arkansas alum Logan Jolly set a career best of 4:33.94 to place third in the mile. Oregon’s Kazimierska won the racein 4:32.03 to break the meet record of 4:35.26 set by Jolly as a Razorback in 2022.

Gracie Hyde led a crew of current Razorbacks in the race with a season best of 4:40.00 to place seventh. Hyde was followed by Claire McCune (4:45.26), Laura Taborda (4:46.50), and Heidi Nielson (4:46.50) as they finished 8-9-10.

Sydney Billington placed second in the high jump with a clearance of 5-10.75 (1.80) and missed at 6-0.75 (1.86). Wichita State’s Destiny Masters cleared the same height as Billington, and her first attempt make secured the win as Billington made the bar on her second attempt.