Lauren Gregory anchors in 4:29 for runner-up DMR finish

January 27, 2023

FAYETTEVILLE – Anchoring the Arkansas distance medley in a time of 4 minutes, 29.89 seconds, enabled Lauren Gregory to move the Razorbacks from eighth to second place, finishing in 10:56.73, the fifth fastest time by an Arkansas squad.

It was that kind of night during the first day of the Razorback Invitational at Randal Tyson Track Center.

Another runner-up performance by Arkansas had Sydney Billington moving to No. 5 on the UA all-time list in the high just with a career best of 6-0 (1.83).

The split by Gregory ranks fourth all-time among collegiate DMRs on a 200m track, trailing only UA alum Dominique Scott (4:28.89), Vickie Huber of Villanova (4:28.8h), and Lindsey Butler of Virginia Tech (4:29.88).

“The DMR is the best entrance back into track,” said Gregory, “because it’s a team event. It’s so fun and it gets you back in the zone. The place we were in was just going to be what it is. That’s always the fun of the DMR, never knowing.

“Watching our DMR team win NCAAs last year, it doesn’t matter really what you get it in, you just have to make it work. We’ve been training to run fast in March. I didn’t know how fast I was going to run, but you’re just going to keep pushing against the pain.”

Stanford won the race in a world-leading time of 10:56.73 with a foursome of Juliette Whittaker (3:18.96), Maya Valmon (52.41), Roisin Willis (2:01.06), and Melissa Tanaka (4:42.73). The 1,200m split by Whittaker ranks third all-time while Willis is the fastest ever 800m split in the world on a DMR.

Arkansas countered with Mary Ellen Eudaly (3:23.77), Paris Peoples (51.81), Ainsley Erzen (2:11.26) and Gregory. The split by Paris on the 400m leg was the fastest in the race, followed by the 52.41 from Stanford’s Valmon, the daughter of Olympic relay gold medalist Andrew Valmon.

“The secret with the DMR is the first three legs have to be able to get the anchor an opportunity to challenge for the final position,” stated Arkansas women’s head coach Lance Harter. “We told the girls, remember, you have a weapon at the end of this relay.

“We just want them to compete well, especially for the two freshmen we had on the relay with Eudaly and Erzen. Across the board they did a great job. It’s nice to have Paris Peoples run a phenomenal leg and reel us back into position.”

The next fastest anchor leg in the race was a 4:34.84 by Taylor Roe of Oklahoma State, who placed third in 10:57.33. The next three schools to finish in the race were Florida (10:57.58), BYU (10:57.60), and Kentucky (10:58.26).

Kaylee Mitchell produced the fourth fastest lead-off split of 3:19:05 for Oregon State as they finished in 11:00.57 for seventh in the race.

Despite the fast splits on various legs, the meet record of 10:51.63 set by Arkansas last year remained intact.

Billington tied for second place in the high jump with Texas A&M’s Bara Sajdokova, who equaled her PR of 6-0. Another Aggie jumper, Lamara Distin, won the event with a clearance of 6-2.75 (1.90).

“It’s taken a lot of visualation and practicing higher heights in practice,” Billington noted. “Seeing the competition and how high they are is very motivating and just helps me push to be as good.

After clearing 5-10 and 6-0 on second attempts, Billington attempted 6-1.25 (1.86).

“It does take the breath out of me for sure,” stated Billington on surpassing the 6-0 barrier. “I just need to gather myself and get ready for the next jump.”

Joanne Reid led a crew of Razorbacks in the 200m, placing sixth in a talented field with a 23.46. Three other Arkansas sprinters registered career best times with Ariane Linton (23.57), Nickisha Pryce (23.61), and Ashanti Denton (23.63).

Competition in the pentathlon had newcomer Madison Langley-Walker place sixth with a career best score of 3,959 points. Her previous best of 3,938 placed fourth in the Big 12 pentathlon last season.

Contesting her first pentathlon, Kessiah Bemis placed 14 with a score of 3,487 points.