Bronze medal for Maria Arboleda in SEC Indoor high jump
COLLEGE STATION – Razorbacks Maria Arboleda and Heidi Hudson combined for 10 team points in the high jump in the lone final for Arkansas on the second day of the SEC Indoor Championships.
Arboleda, a 6-4.75 (1.95) freshman from Colombia, cleared an indoor career best of 6-1.5 (1.87), which is equal No. 3 on the UA all-time list, to earn a bronze medal while Hudson cleared 6-0.5 (1.84) to place fifth.
With seven of 17 finals scored, Alabama leads the women’s field with 38 points while Arkansas has 28 points and is in a second place tie with Texas A&M. They are followed by Kentucky (27), Florida (26), and South Carolina (24).
The Razorbacks advanced five individuals in two events for Saturday finals. That included Kaylyn Brown in the 400m and four entrants in the 800m with Sanu Jallow-Lockhart, Makenna Herbst, Ainsley Erzen, and Analisse Batista.
Qualifying to finals | 5 individuals, 2 events
| 400 | Kaylyn Brown |
| 800 | Sanu Jallow-Lockhart, Makenna Herbst, Ainsley Erzen, Analisse Batista |
Clearing 6-1.5 in the high jump determined the three medal positions with Kentucky’s Kemarah Howard winning the event while Oklahoma’s Hannah Pfiffner finished as runner-up.
Arboleda, who has an outdoor best of 6-2 (1.88), made first attempt clearances at the first four heights she attempted from 5-7.25 (1.71) to 6-0.5 (1.84), which equaled her previous indoor best. A second attempt was needed at 6-1.5 by Arboleda while Howard and Pfiffner each cleared on first attempt after both needed a second jump at the previous height.
Brown won her section of the 400m in 52.20, which placed her fifth overall among those advancing to the final in which 52.41 was the cutoff time.
Other Razorbacks in the 400m field included Sanaria Butler (52.55), Abigail Campbell (53.18 PR), Amirah Sharpe (53.79 PR), Morgan Herbst (54.49), Arianna Sharpe (54.88), and Rae-Anne Serville (55.11).
Jallow-Lockhart led the Razorback crew advancing in the 800m with a 2:05.14 heat victory with teammate Madeleine Gear second in 2:06.59. Makenna Herbst won her heat in 2:06.05 with Ainsley Erzen runner-up in 2:06.36, which was the final time qualifier for the final. Analisse Batista earned an auto-qualifier to the final by winning her heat in 2:07.35.
Shanie Myers led the Arkansas crew in the 60m hurdles with an 8.15 that placed her fourth in her heat. Simone Ballard clocked 8.16 for fifth in another heat. Saira Prince ran 8.20 in finishing fifth in her heat.
Asia Thomas (7.33) and Ryan Jennings (7.36) each set a career best in the 60m prelims.
