Arkansas Qualifier offers final stage prior to conference meet

FAYETTEVILLE – The Arkansas Qualifier hosted by the No. 1 Razorbacks on Friday, Feb. 16, provides another evaluation opportunity for athletes contending for a place on their respective conference teams next week.

“It gives the kids who are on the fringe another chance for us to evaluate what we have with who is competing and how we’re going to get down to 27 athletes for the conference meet,” said Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson. “Every meet we have is an evaluation to see who is healthy, ready to run, and is at their best when it really matters the most.

“Our focus is on the SEC Championships right now, and putting kids in the best position to be successful as a team.”

Competition at the Arkansas Qualifier begins at 12:30 p.m. with field events followed by running events starting at 2 p.m. inside the Randal Tyson Track Center. A live stream through SEC Network + begins at 2 p.m. (http://tinyurl.com/ytxfyuaf) while live results are available here (http://tinyurl.com/y4mwdr5e).

Teams entered in the Arkansas Qualifier include Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Central Missouri, Harding, Iowa State, Milwaukee, Missouri State, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma Christian, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oral Roberts, Oregon, Paradise Valley CC, Pittsburg State, South Plains, Southeast Missouri, USC, Texas, Texas A&M-Texarkana, Louisiana-Monroe, Utah, UTEP, Virginia, Washington, Washington State, and Wichita State.

Following her national record in the 800m last weekend, alum Shafiqua Maloney in entered in the mile. Joining her will be fellow alums in Logan Jolly, Claire McClune, and Katie McClune.

Maloney’s 1:58.69, which improved her national record for St. Vincent and the Grenadines, ranks No. 2 in the world for the 2024 indoor season behind a 1:57.86 for Ethiopia’s Habitam Alemu.

Razorbacks in the mile field include Mia Cochran, Ainsley Erzen, Chachi Gonzales, Tiana LoStracco, and Laura Tobardo. Sydney Thorvaldson races in the 3,000m along with Mary Ellen Eudaly and Mackenzie Rogers.

Racing in the 60m Open are Arkansas alums Ackera Nugent and Jada Baylark, who will also contest the 200m. Alum Taliyah Brooks will high jump along with current Razorback Sydney Billington.

Arkansas will have five vaulters among a field of 18 with Marin Chamberlin, Hannah Estes, Amanda Fassold, Rachel Homoly, and Bailee Wooten.

The triple jump features Jamaican Kimberly Williams, who set the Tyson facility and Arkansas Qualifier meet record of 46-11 (14.30) in 2022, the same year she claimed a bronze medal in the World Indoor Championships.

The Razorbacks 400m crew will take a break prior to next week’s SEC Indoor Championships that Arkansas will host on Feb. 23-24. Among the 2024 collegiate list the Razorbacks occupy four of the top six positions in the 400m and also have the leading time in the 4 x 400m relay.

Amber Anning is the collegiate leader with a 50.56, which ranks her No. 10 on the all-time collegiate list, and she followed by No. 2 Nickisha Pryce (51.04), No. 5 Kaylyn Brown (51.49), and No. 6 Rosey Effiong (51.58). Arkansas leads the 4 x 400m relay with a 3:25.59, which ranks as the fourth best collegiate performance all-time.

“We have some great depth in the 400m and we knew what we had coming back off the World Championships last summer with the young ladies who qualified and ran there,” noted Johnson. “We’re fortunate to have them back.

“We’ll get through this meet and see how things stack up for the SEC Championships, not only with us but for other schools as well. We have to put ourselves in the best position possible and the 400m is a strong event for us.”