No. 5 Arkansas aims for podium finish at NCAA Indoor
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas ranks No. 5 as they prepare to host the NCAA Indoor Championships this weekend at Randal Tyson Track Center.
The Razorbacks total 10 entries in seven events. They will have a pair of entries each in the 400m, 800m, and high jump. Arkansas is also represented in the 5,000m, both 4 x 400m and distance medley relays, as well as the long jump.
In previous NCAA Indoor meets hosted at Tyson, the Razorbacks claimed a national championship in 2015 and 2021.
“We’ve got a good roster and we’re spread out over seven events,” state Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson. “So, we’re looking pretty good. I don’t know if we have enough bullets to be able to win it all, but I definitely think we can be a trophy team.
“Being at home is always an advantage, whether it’s the SEC meet or the national meet. The source of pride and the confidence you have on your home track gives your athletes a bigger push.”
National Rankings | Based on NCAA Indoor entries
Ranking – School Entries – Events
| 1 Illinois | 14 | 6 | HJ (2), PV, LJ (2), TJ (3), Wt (3), Pent (3) | |
| 2 Georgia | 11 | 7 | 60 (3), 200, 400 (2), 60H (2), 4×4, TJ, SP | |
| 3 Texas Tech | 7 | 4 | 60, 60H, HJ (2), TJ (3) | |
| 4 BYU | 8 | 6 | 400, Mile, 3k (3), 5k, DMR, Pent | |
| 5 Arkansas | 10 | 7 | 400 (2), 800 (2), 5k, 4×4, DMR, HJ (2), LJ | |
| 6 Oregon | 8 | 6 | Mile (3), 3k, 5k, 60H, DMR, Pent | |
| 7 Kansas State | 7 | 5 | HJ, LJ (2), TJ (2), Wt, Pent | |
| 8 South Carolina | 9 | 8 | 60, 200, 400, 3k, 60H (2), 4×4, DMR, PV | |
| 9 Alabama | 6 | 5 | 3k, 5k (2), HJ, LJ, Pent | |
| 10 USC | 8 | 5 | 60 (2), 200 (3), 400, 4×4, SP |
Among the top five schools in USTFCCCA national ratings index based on NCAA Indoor entries, No. 1 Illinois has 14 entries among six field events. Arkansas goes head-to-head with them in the high jump and long jump.
Finals for the Razorbacks on the first day of the meet include the 5,000m, distance medley relay and long jump.
Analisse Batista and Sanu Jallow-Lockhart recently went 1-2 in the SEC Indoor 800m, separated by 0.02 of a second. Jallow-Lockhart holds the UA record at 1:59.76 while Batista set a career best of 2:01.10 to win her first SEC title and ranks No. 2 on the UA all-time list.
Kaylyn Brown and Sanaria Butler contest the 400m for Arkansas. Brown finished fifth in the recent SEC Indoor with a season best 51.72 while Butler produced a career best of 51.41 that ranks No. 8 on the UA all-time list.
Sydney Vaught races in the 5,000m where she recently registered a UA record of 15:02.27 to win the SEC Indoor title. Adding a bronze in the 3,000m had Vaught scoring 16 points in the conference meet as she shared high point honors with two others in the meet.
One of three schools to qualify in the 4 x 400m and distance medley relays, the Razorbacks are seeded first and third in the two relays, respectively. Arkansas holds the world leading time for 2026 in the 4 x 400m relay at 3:25.82 and they edged out Georgia and South Carolina for the SEC title with a 3:26.81.
In the distance medley relay a performance of 10:44.09 bettered the UA record by five seconds.
Heidi Hudson will compete in the high jump and long jump while she is joined by Maria Arboleda in the jump. Both Razorbacks have cleared a career best of 6-1.5 (1.87) this season and are tied at No. 3 on the UA all-time list.
Hudson also delivered a career best of 21-4.25 (6.51) in the jump, which ranks No. 4 on the UA all-time list.
