No. 2 Arkansas headlines ranked teams in Razorback Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE – No. 2 Arkansas hosts the Razorback Invitational at Randal Tyson Track Center on Friday and Saturday. The powerhouse meet features four of the top five teams from the first week of the national ratings index and 10 programs among the top 25.

“It’s an ultra-competitive meet, with teams coming in from all around the country who are strong in the sprints, distance, and jumps,” stated Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson. “Matt Downs has done a fantastic job inviting the right teams for this meet.

“This is our second meet of the season, and we feel that our kids are ready and geared up to have a great representation of the Arkansas Razorbacks. We’re very excited about the level of competition we will have and the excitement level these teams have to run on the fastest track in the world.”

The other top five ranked schools include No. 3 Florida, No. 4 USC, and No. 5 Texas A&M. Additional ranked programs include No. 8 Oregon, No. 13 Oklahoma State, No. 14 LSU, No. 17 Ole Miss, No. 18 Kentucky, and No. 19 Georgia.

The field of 16 teams also includes Auburn, Iowa State, Mississippi State, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and St. Augustine’s.

“It’s exciting for our fan base to understand we have this level of competition here,” added Johnson. “We love the support of our fans and our administrators to be here and be able to witness probably one of the best meets, if not the best meet, in the indoor season outside of the conference meet.”

A live stream of the meet through SEC Network + is available both days with a start time of 5 p.m. on Friday and 11 a.m. on Saturday. Live results are available through flashresults.com (https://flashresults.com/2024_Meets/Indoor/01-26_Razorback/index.htm).

Correct answers to Olympic trivia at the marketing table in the lobby will earn a t-shirt during both days of the Razorback Invitational.

“Now it’s time to compete in our respective events,” noted Johnson. “In the first meet most competed in odd events just to get things going. The level of competition these schools bring forces us to step up and we’re excited about the potential our kids have being at a home meet and having this great competition.

“Our strength lies in the long sprints and the 400m is crucial for us. Saturday will be a big day for us in being able to put some big marks up for seeding in the conference meet and top national marks as well.”

Racing at 400m this weekend for the Razorbacks are Amber Anning, Kaylyn Brown, Ashanti Denton, Rosey Effiong, LilliAnn Nunley, and Nickisha Pryce.

On the Arkansas all-time list, the trio of Effiong (50.54), Anning (50.68), and Pryce (51.83) currently rank second, third, and eighth, respectively. Anning’s best even held the UA school record for a couple of weeks in 2023.

After establishing a career best of 52.10 with a debut 400m victory at the Arkansas Invitational, freshman Shawnti Jackson will race in the 60m and 200m, where she sports career best times of 7.16 and 22.91.

Sanu Jallow, who produced the third fastest 600m collegiate time ever with a victory at the Arkansas Invitational, races at 800m this weekend. Jallow has an indoor best of 2:06.99 in the event and has clocked 2:05.68 outdoors.

Destiny Huven, who moved to No. 11 on the UA all-time list in the 60m hurdles with an 8.18 at the Arkansas Invitational, will race in the 200m and 60m hurdles. Huven has a career best of 8.05 in the hurdles.

“The DMR is shaping up very well on the women’s side, so that is a point of contention for us as well,” noted Johnson. “Our 4 x 400m relays are what they are.”

Teams scheduled to race in the distance medley relay, where the Razorbacks hold the meet record of 10:51.63 from 2022, include Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, and Oregon.

The 4 x 400m relay meet record was established last year by Arkansas with a 3:26.40 and three-fourths of that line-up return with Anning, Pryce, and Effiong.

Of the top 12 indoor relay times produced by Arkansas, Effiong has been on 10 of those relays. She has run first leg three times, second leg three times, once on third leg and anchored three times.

“We have Sydney Thorvaldson in the 3,000m while Mary Ellen Eudaly amongst others in the mile, and our pole vaulters are looking for marks to move up in the conference and national level,” Johnson said.

An Invitational mile field will include Razorbacks Mia Cochran and Eudaly while a 3,000m Invitational field features Thorvaldson, Cochran and Laura Taborda.

A field of 29 pole vaulters will include five Razorbacks, including defending NCAA Indoor champion Amanda Fassold. Contesting the pentathlon is Arkansas transfer Sara Van Aken, who has a career best of 3,850 points.

“All across the board, from the whole team standpoint, we’re looking to improve,” said Johnson. “With us improving, hopefully we can get some national marks in that improvement.”

Alums and professionals entered in the meet include Ackera Nugent, a double NCAA hurdle champion in 2023, racing in the 60m hurdles along with Razorback alum Taliyah Brooks and a field of professionals that include Gabriele Cunningham, Tara Davis-Woodhall, Lolo Jones, and Cindy Sember. Davis-Woodhall will also long jump along with 2023 Bowerman finalist Jasmine Moore.

Returning sprinters include Aleia Hobbs (6.98) and Favor Ofili (22.53), who each set meet records at 60m and 200m a year ago.