Arkansas Qualifier final indoor home meet for No. 1 Razorbacks
FAYETTEVILLE – The No. 1 Razorbacks host their final indoor home meet of the season with the Arkansas Qualifier on Friday at the Randal Tyson Track Center.
A total of 32 schools will be represented in the meet as teams have a final opportunity to improve marks prior to upcoming conference meets.
“For the people we are competing, and we’re not competing many, we’re just trying to get some better NCAA marks, particularly in the 800m,” said Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson. “With everything else, it’s like a dress rehearsal. Most of the kids will be practicing tomorrow.”
The Arkansas Qualifier will have a live stream on SEC Network + starting at 2:30 p.m. (CT) at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2p87kzv2. Live results are available here: https://tinyurl.com/mprcwypu.
Teams scheduled to compete include Central Missouri, Colorado School of Mines, Crowder (Mo.), Drury, East Texas A&M, Iowa State, Kansas, Little Rock, Missouri Southern, Missouri State, Murray State, Northern Colorado, Northwest Missouri, Northwestern Oklahoma State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Oral Roberts, Oregon, Ouachita Baptist, Paradise Valley (Ariz.) CC, Pittsburg State, South Florida, South Plains (Texas), TCU, UCLA, UTEP, Virginia, Washburn, and Wichita State.
Analisse Batista, who has improved in both the 400m and 800m this indoor season, is scheduled for another double in the Arkansas Qualifier. During the Tyson Invitational, Batista produced career best times of 53.01 and 2:03.85. Her performance in the 800m moved her to No. 10 on the UA all-time list.
The 400m field will also include Razorback LilliAnn Nunley as well as Arkansas alum Nickisha Pryce.
Razorbacks in the 800m also include Ainsley Erzen, Tiana LoStracco, Anna Podojil, Rachel Cornell, Lanie Meeks, Sorcha Shiu, and Caroline Sutton. Alums in the race include Shafiqua Maloney, Taliyah Brooks and Stephanie Brokaw.
“We’ll give some of these young ladies another opportunity to compete and see if they can improve on their times,” noted Johnson. “They’ve been working hard this week and we’re anxious to see where they’re at. Also, we always have to prepare for the big meets, and that is the SECs, so we can’t take anything for granted.”
Six current Razorbacks rank among the top 12 of the UA all-time list in the 800m. Following the Tyson Invitational, Arkansas improved its No. 1 status in national event rankings for the 800m with a four-person average of 2:02.40 to rank ahead of BYU (2:03.89), North Carolina (2:04.38), and Stanford (2:04.61).
Contesting a 800m and mile double are Maddy Gear, Audrey Hill, Camryn Kirkland, and Morgan Kirkland. The mile field also includes Logan Jolly and Sydney Thorvaldson. A mile and 3,000m combo will be contested by Ruby Little, Olivia Pielemeier, Mackenzie Rogers, and Bradley Weimer with alum Claire McCune racing in the 3,000m.
The pole vault has Razorbacks Rachel Homoly, Hannah Estes, Addison Richey, Skye Tolbert, and Bailee Wooten competing among a field of 30 vaulters.
USATF Indoor Championships
The USATF Indoor Championships will be held this Saturday and Sunday in Staten Island, New York. The 400m field includes Rosey Effiong, while Jada Baylark is in the 60m, and Nikki Hiltz is entered in the 1,500m, and 3,000m.
UK Athletics Indoor Championships
Arkansas alum Amber Anning will compete in the 400m at the UK Athletics Indoor Championships this weekend in Birmingham, England. The 400m heats will be on Saturday, Feb. 22, at 6:38 a.m. (CT) while the final will be on Sunday, Feb. 23, at 8:50 a.m. (CT).
