Chris Bailey breaks Arkansas 400m record with world-leading 45.09

FAYETTEVILLE – Blazing to a winning time of 45.09 seconds in the 400m, Arkansas senior Chris Bailey broke the school record during the second day of action in the Razorback Invitational held at the Randal Tyson Track Center on Saturday.

The previous UA record of 45.29 was set in 2005 by Terry Gatson while the previous meet record of 45.34 was set by Florida’s Najee Glass in 2015.

In producing the world leading time in 2023, Bailey demolished a field that included LSU’s Sean Burrell (46.37), USC’s Justin Braun (46.42), Florida’s Ryan Willie (46.47) and Kentucky’s Wayne Lawrence (46.48). Also racing in the 400m for Arkansas were Ayden Owens-Delerme (46.97) and Devontie Archer (47.04).

In fourth place approaching the second lap, Bailey remained patient and opted for the inside portion of lane one. Space became available through the curve and Bailey took advantage, moving into the lead and dramatically pulling away from the field.

In the month of January, Bailey’s time is the fastest ever by a collegian and second fastest ever when factoring in professionals. The top January time is 45.03 by Fred Kerley in 2021 at the Tyson Track Center.

Bailey later split 45.03 on the third leg of the Razorback’s 4 x 400 relay that finished fourth in a very close finish with a time of 3:04.42. Florida set a world-leading time of 3:04.11 with a 45.14 anchor leg from Willie to edge out USC’s 3:04.12 while Baylor finished third in 3:04.37.

Those are the four fastest times in the world for the 2023 season. The other Razorback members of the relay were Lance Lang (46.43), Connor Washington (46.27), and Archer (46.69).

A 2-3 finish in the 60m hurdles for Matthew Lewis-Banks and Phillip Lemonious had the Razorback pair placing behind a 7.60 by 2022 Bowerman winner Trey Cunningham.

Lewis-Banks, who raced professional Cunningham twice, clocked a pair of PRs on the day, posting a 7.74 in the prelim followed by a 7.72 in the final. Lewis-Banks is now No. 6 on the UA all-time list. Lemonious ran 7.73 for third place while a 7.85 had Tre’Bien Gilbert finishing eighth in the field.

Yariel Soto Torrado continued to lead the Razorback foursome in the heptathlon, placing third with a career best score of 5,889 points, which moves him to No. 6 on the UA all-time list.

Daniel Spejcher placed fifth with a 5,693 while Marcus Weaver finished sixth with a career best score of 5,603. Noah Swaby, who had a no height in the pole vault, scored 4,660 points to place 13th.

Career best times in the 60m had Lang registering a 6.66 for third behind a 6.58 for Florida’s PJ Austin and a 6.63 for Stanford’s Udodi Onwuzurike. Washington set a career best of 6.74 in eighth place.

Lang, who had a 6.67 PR in the prelim, moves to equal No. 5 on the UA all-time list with his 6.66. Washington just misses the top 10, with 6.72 shared by three Arkansas sprinters – Omar Brown, Wallace Spearmon, Jr., and Mychael Stewart – and the No. 9 position.

Lexington Hilton finished fourth in the 3,000m with a career best time of 7:49.84, which moves him to No. 7 on the UA all-time list. His previous best in the event was 7:59.25. Hilton finished behind BYU’s Casey Clinger (7:43.96) and the Stanford pair of Cole Sprout (7:44.50) and Ky Robinson (7:49.72).

Three other career best times were registered by Patrick Kiprop (7:53.41), Ben Shearer (7:54.06), and Josh Shearer (7:59.12).

Leroy Russell finished third in the 800 with a 1:48.54 with Ricardo Banks placing seventh overall in 1:50.03. Reuben Reina established a career best of 4:03.11 in the mile.