Nikki Hiltz wins 1,500m title at USATF Indoor

ALBUQUERQUE – Arkansas alums and athletes training in Fayetteville had a successful weekend at the USATF Indoor Championships as berths to the World Athletics Indoor Championships were on the line.

Wins were attained by Arkansas alum Nikki Hiltz in the 1,500m as well as three athletes who train in Fayetteville – Ryan Crouser (shot put), Tara Davis-Woodhall (long jump), and Alexis Holmes (400m). Meanwhile, in the British Indoor Championships held this weekend, Cindy Sember claimed her third title in the 60m hurdles.

Four Razorback alums also finished among the top five in USATF Indoor finals with Sandi Morris runner-up in the pole vault, Chris Bailey third in the 400m, Jarrion Lawson third in the long jump and Kiara Parker fifth in the 60m.

The top two finishers with the qualifying standard advance to the World Athletics Indoor Championships being held in Glasgow, Scotland, on the weekend of March 1-3.

Hiltz claimed gold in the 1,500m with a winning time of 4:08.35 over the challenge from Emily Mackay (4:08.70). In fourth place through the first 700m of the race, Hiltz moved into second place behind Gabrielle Jennings over the next pair of laps.

Then Hiltz took over the lead and cruised to the finish with laps of 31.93 and 28.68 to secure the victory. Mackay followed with laps of 32.05 and 28.78.

Crouser opened his 2024 season with a world-leading mark of 74-9.75 (22.80) that bettered the meet and facility record of 74-1.75 (22.60) that Crouser established in 2020. The series for Crouser included marks of 71-3.5 (21.73), 72-8 (22.15), 73-6 (22.40), 74-9.75 (22.80), and 72-8 (22.15).

On Friday, Davis-Woodhall set a career best and world-leading mark of 23-6.75 (7.18) that is the sixth best mark on the all-time world indoor list. Davis-Woodhall also became the No. 2 performer with the No. 3 performance on the U.S. all-time indoor list.

The series for Davis-Woodhall included marks of 22-4.75 (6.81), 22-1 (6.73), foul, 22-3.75 (6.80), 23-6.75 (7.18), and 23-0 (7.01). Davis-Woodhall bettered the facility record of 22-11.25 (6.99) that she shared with Janay DeLoach.

Holmes registered a meet record of 50.34 in winning the 400m over a 51.23 by Talitha Diggs and 51.76 from Quanera Hayes. The previous meet record of 50.71 was set in 2012 by Sanya Richards-Ross. The facility record of 49.48 was established by Britton Wilson in winning the 2023 NCAA Indoor title.

Sember claimed her second consecutive British 60m hurdle title in 7.99 ahead of an 8.24 for runner-up Abigail Pawlett. Sember also won an indoor title in 2019.

Morris cleared 15-7 (4.75) in the pole vault to earn a trip to Scotland. Katie Moon won the event with a 15-9 (4.80) clearance. Morris passed on the 15-9 height and had three misses at 15-11 (4.85).

Bailey posted a time of 45.76 in placing third in the 400m final behind a 45.47 winning time for Brian Faust and a 45.48 runner-up for Jacory Patterson.

Lawson led the long jump field for rounds 3-4-5, but then his mark of 26-5 (8.05) was passed in the final round by USC’s Johnny Brackins, with a 27-0 (8.23), and Isaac Grimes, with a 26-5.5 (8.06).

A season best of 7.15 placed Kiara Parker fifth in the 60m final after she ran 7.18 in the prelim. The 7.15 effort equals the third best time in Parker’s career, which she previously ran in 2019.