Marcus Weaver third Razorback to claim SEC decathlon gold

LEXINGTON – Razorback senior Marcus Weaver won the decathlon title at the SEC Championships with a total of 7,940 points, which ranks No. 5 on the UA all-time list.

Additional qualifying races had Arkansas advancing seven more athletes to Saturday finals in the 100m (2), 400m (1), 110m hurdles (1), and 1,500m (3).

The group included Jordan Anthony and Connor Washington in the 100m, Steven McElroy in the 400m, Karamoko Sacko in the 110m hurdles, along with the trio of Reuben Reina, Davis Helmerich, and Brian Masai in the 1,500m.

Team scoring after eight of 21 finals have Ole Miss in the lead with 48 points followed by Georgia with 43 and Alabama with 42. The Razorbacks are currently tied with Texas A&M in sixth place with 20 points.

After leading the decathlon through the first day with 3,988 points, Weaver delivered a victory while teammate Connor Williams placed seventh with a total of 6,772 points. A pair of Georgia athletes finished second and third with Maximus Tucker (7,437) and Jordan Fick (7,401).

Weaver becomes the third Razorback to claim the SEC decathlon title, joining Kevin Lazas (2012 – 7,778) and Jack Turner (2024 – 7,935).

The second day of the decathlon was delayed due to inclement weather. Weaver posted the best time in the 110m hurdles with a 14.85 in a downpour for 867 points. Then Weaver delivered the top mark in the discus with a toss of 152-11 (46.62) for 800 points.

A clearance of 14-7.25 (4.45) in the pole vault collected 746 points for Weaver, who was fourth in the field. Then came a huge winning throw in the javelin and a mighty roar by Weaver to celebrate a career best of 224-5 (68.41) for 865 points.

Weaver also moved to No. 5 on the UA all-time list in the javelin. His previous best in the event measured 222-0 (67.68) set in winning the 2021 NCAA Division III title while also claiming the decathlon title in the same meet.

Weaver closed out the decathlon with a 4:40.94 in the 1,500m to earn 674 points and finish fifth in the event.

In addition to the 12 team points produced in the decathlon, Uroy Ryan added three points by placing sixth in the long jump with a career best mark of 25-8.75 (7.84).

Anthony, who holds the UA 100m record at 9.98 seconds, produced a barely wind-aided 9.96 (2.1 wind) to lead the 100m prelim field while Washington claimed the last spot in the final with a 10.15 that ranks No. 7 on the UA all-time list.

The best all-conditions 100m at Arkansas is a 9.90w by Jarrion Lawson in 2015 while Kenzo Cotton had a 9.96w in 2017.

In the 1,500m, Reina had the top time among the Razorbacks with a 3:45.03 that ranked third overall. Helmerich ran 3:46.43 that was eighth best and Masai claimed the final spot in the final with a 3:47.43.

A career best of 45.50 by McElroy was sixth best in the 400m field. Additional Arkansas sprinters in the prelims included TJ Tomlyanovich (18th – 46.14), Brandon Battle (20th – 46.30), and Zyaire Nuriddin (21st – 46.35).

Generating a career best of 13.75 sent Sacko to the 110m hurdle final as the last time qualifier and the lone freshman. Brevin Sims finished 10th overall with a season best of 13.78.