Britton Wilson splits 50.59 on relay to close Tyson Invitational
FAYETTEVILLE – Closing out the Tyson Invitational on Saturday afternoon, Britton Wilson supplied the Razorback 4 x 400m relay with a 50.59 relay split on the third leg as Arkansas finished second in 3:28.43 behind a professional group.
Hurdle Mechanic won the relay in 3:28.37 with an anchor leg of 51.16 from Alexis Holmes as Arkansas anchor leg Joanne Reid split 51.93.
The first two legs for the Razorbacks included Aaliyah Pyatt (52.83) and Ashanti Denton (53.08) to counter the Hurdle Mechanic pair of Nicole Yeargin (52.90) and Andranette Knight (52.15) with Dalilah Muhammad running the third leg in 52.16.
Finishing behind those pair of relay teams were Florida (3:31.76), Iowa (3:33.00), and LSU (3:33.48).
“It was fun, we just had the mindset to go out there and compete,” said Wilson, who had the fastest split in the meet. “That’s what I had on my mind, go compete and have fun. I wasn’t really focused on anything else.
On her 51.14 400m opener Friday, Wilson added: “It was good, and I’m not too disappointed with the time. I think I felt a little upset with how I felt during the race, just coming back off from being sick. So, it was definitely an adjustment kind of feeling how my body was getting back into racing. I felt good, and it was a great weekend.”
Returning from a set of robust 400m times the day before, Nickisha Pryce led the Razorback sprinters in the 200m with a career best of 23.22 that moves her to No. 10 on the UA all-time list. Rosey Effiong followed with a career best of 23.27 ahead of Amber Anning (23.38) and Joanne Reid (23.40).
Effiong, who moved to No. 2 on the UA all-time list in the 400m with a 51.02 victory, said: “I’m just happy that I did it, to be honest. I’ve been working hard in practice, so finally I’m getting it together. I’m executing my race and putting the pieces together to get to a faster time.
“I wasn’t trying to chase a time when I was running, I was just mainly thinking about executing and relaxing. To run that time is a confidence boost, it makes me want to work harder. It’s very motivating.”
In the high jump a mark of 5-10.5 (1.79) placed Sydney Billington fourth while Arkansas alum Taliyah Brooks made the same height to tie for fifth place.
A crew of four Razorbacks set career best times at 800m with Lainey Quandt leading the pack in placing third with a 2:06.35 while Arkansas alum Shafiqua Maloney finished fourth in 2:06.45.
Ainsley Erzen, who also set a PR in the 400 on Friday with a 56.79, improved her indoor 800m time to 2:06.91 to place fifth overall. Paris Peoples finished ninth overall with a 2:08.41 career best.
Racing in Seattle at the Husky Classic hosted by Washington, the mile was the featured event for the Razorbacks on Saturday.
Mary Ellen Eudaly led the Arkansas crew in setting a career best of 4:39.91. Three additional Razorbacks set career best times with Carmie Prinsloo (4:42.94), Sydney Thorvaldson (4:44.17), and Claire McCune (4:44.80). Following them were Laura Taborda (4:47.21) and Hiedi Nielson (4:47.87).
