Kason O’Riley wins high jump at Razorback Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE – A clearance of 7 feet, 1.5 inches (2.17) earned Kason O’Riley a victory in the high jump at the Razorback Invitational while Carey McLeod made his Arkansas debut with a runner-up finish in the long jump.

Needing a third attempt clearance at 6-11.5 (2.12), O’Riley mastered the winning height on his first attempt. Meanwhile, Arizona State’s Jeremy Cody needed three attempts at 7-1.5 and finished runner-up. Razorback Tomas Ferrari placed third in the event with a 6-11.5 (2.12) clearance.

McLeod only had three attempts in the long jump, his best distance of 26-6.5 (8.09) coming in the second round and moving him to equal No. 8 on the UA all-time list, matching him with Tarik Batchelor from 2010. McLeod produced a leap of 26-0 (8.00) in the opening round.

Florida State’s Jeremiah Davis won the event with a world-leading 26-11.25 (8.21), which he produced twice. Davis broke the meet record of 26-9.75 (8.17) set by Jarrion Lawson in 2016.

In the pole vault, Rhett Nelson set his collegiate best with a clearance of 17-0.75 (5.20) to place seventh. Kentucky’s Keaton Daniel established a collegiate leading height of 18-10.25 (5.75) for this season with the victory.

The first day of the heptathlon has Razorbacks in places 4-5-6-10 with the foursome of Yariel Soto Torrado (3,280 points), Daniel Spejcher (3,163), Marcus Weaver (3,117), and Noah Swaby (2,945).

Will Daniels leads the competition with a score of 3,501 while Iowa’s duo of Peyton Haack (3,336) and Austin West (3,302) are in second and third place.

Soto Torrado just missed the meet record in the heptathlon long jump by a quarter of an inch with his effort of 24-11 (7.59). The record of 24-11.25 was set by Devon Williams of Georgia in 2017.