Arkansas Qualifier offers tune-up opportunity for No. 8 Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE – The No. 8 Razorbacks host the Arkansas Qualifier on Friday, February 20, at the Randal Tyson Track Center with representatives from 25 schools competing in a final meet before upcoming conference meets.

Live results are available at flashresults.com at this link. There will not be a live stream available for this meet.

“This meet is a tune-up for the ladies that are on the fringe of the SEC Indoor meet,” noted Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson. “Number one we’re still getting some races under their belt.

“On the big stage we’re looking to improve our time in the DMR on the national level and not have to go into the conference meet looking to run fast in the DMR, but just to be able to put a good team together and not have to chase a mark.”

Arkansas is scheduled to race in the distance medley relay with Iowa State and Oklahoma State. The Razorbacks currently rank ninth in the nation with a 10:51.43 and Oklahoma State is currently fifth with a 10:47.84, both times from the Razorback Invitational. Meanwhile, Iowa State’s 10:54.47 is currently holding the 12th and final qualifying spot for NCAA Indoor heading into this weekend.

In the Razorback Invitational race, the Arkansas distance medley relay consisted of Ainsley Erzen, Sanaria Butler, Makenna Herbst, and Sydney Vaught.

“We’ll tweak the line-up a little bit,” Johnson said. “We have some options and we haven’t come up with the exact final four. The good thing is we do have some options.”

Distance races will have Josphine Mwaura and Bradley Weimer in the mile and 3,000m. Madeleine Gear joins the pair in the mile and is also entered in the 800m with Erzen, Herbst, Faith Murphy, and Sorcha Shiu.

The 200m and 400m will have six Razorbacks in each race. Doubling in both events are Abigail Campbell, Amirah Sharpe, Arianna Sharpe, Rae-Anne Serville, and Breagan Blowers. The group will include Analisse Batista in the 400m and Gabriella Cunningham in the 200m.

Batista has posted a pair of career best times this indoor season in the 400m with times of 52.77 at the Razorback Invitational and 52.41 at the Tyson Invitational. On the 4 x 400m relay, Batista has produced the third and fourth fastest splits this indoor season with a 50.85 anchor leg and 50.67 second leg.

“Analisse stacks up pretty well,” said Johnson. “She’s done a fantastic job and we’ve really worked on her speed. You can see her improving in her speed development in the 400m and relay splits.

“She’s only run the 800m once this indoor season. She tends to get better as the season progresses. That’s what we’re looking forward to.”

Arkansas alums scheduled to compete include Paris Peoples in the 400m and Shafiqua Maloney in the 800m.

Arkansas Women | Current national ranking