Khaleb McRae breaks 400m World Record, Jordan Anthony produces 60m world lead

FAYETTEVILLE – The first day of the Tyson Invitational produced a slew of fireworks among the Razorbacks and included a 400m World Record of 44.52 seconds by professional Khaleb McRae along with a 60m world lead of 6.43 seconds for Arkansas alum Jordan Anthony.

McRae delivered a stellar performance in the 400m, but came up short of the Randal Tyson Track Center facility record of 44.49 set in 2024 by Canadian Christopher Morales Williams, who competed for Georgia at the SEC Indoor Championships. However, the 44.49 wasn’t ratified as a World Record due to the blocks that were used in that meet.

The previous fastest time by an American, a 44.52 by Michael Norman of USC at the 2018 NCAA Indoor Champions held at Texas A&M, also failed to be ratified as a World Record due to drug testing protocol.

McRae’s time will likely pass ratification by World Athletics to secure the World Record status since the correct starting blocks were utilized, drug testing was onsite and the required paperwork was filled out.

William Jones finished behind McRae in the first section of the 400m while Jereem Richards won the second section in 45.56 to place second overall.

Jordan Anthony, who entered the meet with a 6.47 career best, won his prelim heat in 6.51 while current Razorback Jelani Watkins won the other prelim heat in a career best of 6.52, which ranks No. 2 on the UA all-time list to Anthony’s school record of 6.47.

In the final, Anthony blistered a 6.43 to improve his career best while establishing the world-leading time for 2026. He also ranks equal No. 9 on the world all-time list with Tim Harden (1999) and Noah Lyles (2024).

Anthony bettered the meet and facility record of 6.46 set by Terrance Trammell in 2003.

Tennessee had a pair of sprinters place second and third with Traunard Folson (6.49) and Davonte Howell (6.52) with professional Treyvon Bromell fourth in 6.53. Watkins did not race in the final.

Razorback Jerome Campbell finished second in the Championship division of the 60m hurdles with a career best time of 7.48, the current collegiate leader for 2026. He moves to No. 2 on the UA all-time list behind the 7.45 UA record held by Omar McLeod and he is equal No. 2 on the Jamaican all-time list behind McLeod’s 7.41.

Professional Johnny Brackins won the race in 7.47 while Kendrick Smallwood of Texas placed third in 7.58. Razorback Vashaun Vascianna clocked 7.53 in the prelim, but did not race in the final.

The current top four hurdlers on the UA all-time list are Jamaicans. Following McLeod and Campbell are Vascianna (7.52 from 2025) and Phillip Lemonious (7.54 from 2021).

Arkansas distance runner Brian Masai finished third in the 3,000m with a career best time of 7:43.96, which ranks No. 6 on the UA all-time list. A pair of Oklahoma State alums finished 1-2 in the race with Ryan Schoppe delivering a 7:38.19 win over a 7:40.20 by Fouad Messaoudi of Morrocco.

The University 60m final was claimed by Razorback Jamarion Stubbs in 6.58, which ranks No. 4 on the UA all-time list while teammate Dapriest Hogans finished third in a PR of 6.61 to move to No. 7 on the UA all-time list. Stubbs just missed his PR of 6.57.

Abdoul Sy-Savane won the University 60m hurdles in a career best of 7.55, which ranks No. 5 on the UA all-time list, as he defeated LSU’s Jaheim Stern (7.67) and Josh Parrish of Wichita State (7.70). In the prelims Sy-Savane produced a then PR of 7.57.

Devyn Wright improved his 400m best to 45.38 to win his section of the University 400m and moved to equal No. 3 on the UA all-time list. He only trails the UA record of 45.09 set by Chris Bailey and a 45.29 by Terry Gaston.

Jordan Pierre won the second section in 46.00 while Zander Cruzan claimed his section in 46.45. Zaire Nuriddin placed second in another section with a 46.87 behind overall winner Jake Palermo of Penn State, who led the field with a 45.33.