NCAA Lead Highlights Final Indoor Home Stand

Arkansas Qualifier Results

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 3 Arkansas women’s track and field team closed out its final home indoor meet at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville in phenomenal fashion led by an NCAA-leading mark from sophomore Lexi Weeks.

Already ranked as one of the top pole vaulters in the nation, Weeks moved up one spot to No. 1, following a season’s best clearance of 4.60m/15-1. The defending Southeastern Conference and NCAA Indoor champion in the pole vault, Weeks heads into 2017 postseason competition as the only vaulter to clear a 15-foot bar this season.

“Today was a day to get more practice under my belt; another practice meet leading up to SECs,” Weeks said. “Obviously, jumping 15-1, I feel great. I’m slowly getting back to my normal self. I went through kind of rough beginning of my indoor season but after that 15-foot clearance I shut it down because there was no reason to keep going and wear myself out for the next meet. Overall I feel good.”

Taliyah Brooks also had a great day for the Razorbacks, posting the top performances in the 60-meter hurdles (8.20) and the long jump (6.44m/21-1 1/2). Brooks mark long jump matched her program record from earlier this season while her time in the hurdles was a season’s best — .03 seconds shy of her PR.

Additional notable performances on the track were posted by Jada Baylark who finished with the best time in 60-meter dash (7.47) and returned to clock the fastest collegiate time in the 200 with a PR of 23.80. Baylark was closely trailed by senior Brianna Swinton who also collected a PR in the event, placing fourth in 23.98.

Ceara Watson was the top collegian in the 400, placing third overall in a personal best 53.89.

More personal bests came in the mile as a slew of Razorbacks including seniors Regan Ward and Valerie Reina raced to top-10 finishes in the eight-lap contest. Ward was the top performer in the field of 18, finishing in 4 minutes, 42.50 seconds. Sydney Brown, Reina and Abby Gray followed Ward, finishing second, third and fourth, respectively.

“Our vaulters continue to take care of business,” associate head coach Chris Johnson said. “Our milers also stepped up today which will give us added depth in the distance events looking towards next week. Ceara [Watson] ran well in the 400 which is a great indicator of what she’s capable of doing in the 800. Taliyah [Brooks] is rounding back into form and Payton [Stumbaugh] is getting back healthy again which will be good for us during the outdoor season. Next week we’ll have to make sure we execute at the conference meet but our performances at this meet gives us hope and the understanding that we can do it and get it done in the best conference in the country.”

Arkansas’ distance medley relay team of Therese Haiss, Daina Harper, Damajahnee Birch and Nikki Hiltz will be in action tomorrow around 10:45 a.m. CT at the Alex Wilson Invitational in South Bend, Indiana.

Alex Wilson Invitational
Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 18, 10:45 a.m. CT
Venue: Loftus Sports Center (South Bend, Indiana)
Important Links: Meet Schedule | Live Results | Watch Live (Subscription Required) |  Start Lists

Arkansas Qualifier
February 17, 2017
Randal Tyson Track Center (Fayetteville, Ark.)

60 Meters
1. Jada Baylark – 7.47
2. Kiara Parker – 7.47
4. Taliyah Brooks – 7.54
4. Kelsey Herman – 7.54
10.Tamara Kuykendall – 7.66

200 Meters
3. Jada Baylark – 23.80
4. Brianna Swinton – 23.98
5. Sunkietra McCallister – 24.37
8. Tamara Kuykendall – 24.74
16. Kaylee McCarthy – 26.58

400 Meters
3. Ceara Watson – 53.89
4. Brianna Swinton – 54.56
6. Sydney Hammit – 55.91
9. Sunkietra McCallister – 56.41
10. Leigha Brown – 57.55

800 Meters
3. Alex Byrnes – 2:08.67
6. Kailee Sawyer – 2:12.49
8. Emily Jeacock – 2:1273
9. Madison Cooley – 2:22.35

Mile Run
1. Regan Ward – 4:42.50
2. Sydney Brown – 4:43.24
3. Valerie Reina – 4:43.32
4. Abby Gray – 4:46.73
6. Carina Viljoen – 4:49.61
7. Maddy Reed – 4:55.12
9. Micah Huckabee – 5:02.10
10. Kelsey Schrader – 5:03.01
11. Logan Bishop – 5:05.67
15. Kristen Larkan – 5:18.78
18. Grace Taylor – 5:32.82

60 Meter Hurdles
1. Taliyah Brooks – 8.20
3. Kelsey Herman – 8.45
5. Ashlee Moore – 8.57

4-x-400-Meter Relay
2. Swinton/Watson/Herman/Brooks – 3:38.82
4. Parker/Byrnes/McCallister/Hammit – 3:45.77
5. Baylark, Cooley, Moore, McCarthy – 4:04.70

High Jump
1. Carmen Sitz – 1.70m/5-7
2. Ashlee Moore – 1.65m/5-5

Pole Vault
1. Lexi Weeks – 4.60m/15-1
9. Rylee Robinson – 3.79m/12-5 1/4
10. Madeline Telford – 3.64m/11-11 1/4
11. Stephanie Diettinger – 3.34m/10-11 1/2

Long Jump
1. Taliyah Brooks – 6.44m/21-1 1/2
5. Kelsey Herman – 6.03m/19-9 1/2
7. Leigha Brown – 5.74m/18-10

For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.