Future Razorback Shawnti Jackson breaks 100m national HS record

NASHVILLE – Incoming Razorback Shawnti Jackson generated a sensational winning time of 10.89 seconds while racing in a professional 100m field at the Music City Track Carnival hosted by Vanderbilt University on Saturday.

Jackson broke the national high school record of 10.94 set by Brianna Williams in 2019, equaled the World 18-year-old best and is equal No. 4 performer on the World U20 list with the equal No. 5 performance.

“I’ve been working on this race for like my whole life,” stated Jackson on the Peacock TV broadcast of the meet. “To finally come here and execute it in just my third 100m race since coming off an injury and to set a national record means a lot.”

This marks the fifth national high school record broken across various events by Jackson, who turned 18 on May 2. The other four national high school records were set indoors in the 50m (6.26), 55m (6.67), 60m (7.16), and 300m (36.63).

World U20 All-Time List | 100m

Jackson’s previous career best at 100m was an 11.15 as the bronze medalist in the World U20 Championships in Cali, Colombia, in 2022. That time ranked her No. 11 on the all-time high school list.

Her previous best times in the 100m this season included an 11.36 on May 28 along with a windy 11.33 on May 20.

On the current 2023 world list, Jackson ranks equal No. 6 with Tamari Davis, who ranks second on the World U20 all-time list with a 10.83. Among American sprinters, Jackson is equal No. 3.

2023 World List | 100m

Racing against a professional field, Jackson ran 11.18 (-0.8 wind) in the prelims to advance to the final on time as she finished second in the first heat to an 11.13 for Melissa Jefferson, the 2022 USATF champion who placed eighth in the World Championships.

In the final, a burst from the starting block propelled Jackson into a lead she held throughout the race with an aiding wind of 0.9. Finishing behind Jackson in a pair of 11.06 times were Kortnei Johnson and Brittany Brown. An 11.09 for Murielle Ahoure-Demps placed her fourth with Jefferson fifth in 11.10.

“Just to be running against people who I look up to inspired me more,” noted Jackson. “I didn’t know I ran that fast, I was just happy to win a pro race at 18.

“When I heard the time, I’m not sure how I feel right now, I’m sure that will come later. I’m just glad I won. I’m so grateful I was able to do that.”

Another prep sprinter in the race, Adaejah Hodge, finished seventh with an 11.20. Arkansas alum Kiara Parker, who holds the Razorback school record with an 11.02, finished eighth in 11.27, matching her prelim time.

With an improvement of 0.26 of a second to her career best, Jackson becomes the first high school sprinter to run under 10.90 seconds.

U.S. High School All-Time List | 100m

Another incoming Razorback, John Scott Kendricks, won the boy’s pole vault on Friday with a clearance of 16-4.75 (5.00).

Arkansas alum Logan Jolly posted a winning time of 9:38.82 in the 3,000m steeplechase over a 10.22.09 for runner-up Kayla Schiera. In the men’s steeplechase, current Razorback Jack Williams finished seventh in 9:07.13.

Additional Arkansas alums competing in the Music City Track Carnival included Erich Sullins as runner-up in the hammer with a mark of 234-1 (71.34) to finish behind a 242-10 (74.02) for Sean Donnelly.

A season best of 4:09.03 placed Carina Viljoen fourth among 11 runners in the 1,500m behind a trio of Americans, led by a 4:03.22 for Addy Wiley.

Shafiqua Maloney registered a 2:04.06 for eighth place in a loaded 800m field that included four sub-2-minute times. Allie Wilson won the race in 1:59.24 to edge out the 1:59.26 from Charlene Lipsey.

Racing in the men’s 800m, Leroy Russell III finished eighth in 1:47.81, a season best that is just shy of his career best of 1:47.39.