Jelani Watkins shares National Athlete of the Week honor

FAYETTEVILLE – Razorback sophomore Jelani Watkins was named Co-National Athlete of the Week by USTFCCCA following his stellar performances at the SEC Outdoor Championships.

Watkins totaled 21.25 points in the meet to finish as high-point scorer as Arkansas won a sixth consecutive title and 25th overall at the SEC Outdoor Championships.

After being aggravated with a fourth-place finish in the 4 x 100m relay to start the final day of the conference meet, Watkins won the 100m in 9.95 to equal the UA record set by Jordan Anthony in 2025.

Then Watkins hammered a 19.87 to claim the 200m and break the UA record of 19.87 set by Wallace Spearmon, Jr. in 2005. The time for Watkins ranks No. 8 among US collegians all-time.

This was the second consecutive year for an Arkansas sprinter to win the 100m and 200m at the SEC Outdoor Championships and earn high-point scorer after Anthony achieved the same in 2025.

Sharing the national honor with Watkins is USC sprinter Eddie Nketia, who swept Big 10 100m and 200m titles and anchored a fourth-place 4 x 100m relay. With a 5.6 tailwind, Nketia won the 100m in 9.74w while a 7.5 tailwind led to a 20.03 victory in the 200m.