No. 9 Razorbacks host John McDonnell Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE – The John McDonnell Invitational on Friday, April 24, is the second home meet of the outdoor season for No. 9 Arkansas as they host a field of 31 teams.

The meet will stream on SEC Network + at this link. Live results will be available on flashresults.com.

With 31 schools competing, the No. 2 Razorbacks host programs that include Central Arkansas, Central Missouri, Coffeyville CC, Houston Christian, Illinois State, Indian Hills CC, Kansas, Lamar, Missouri Southern Missouri State, Northwest Arkansas CC, Oklahoma Baptist, Oklahoma Christian, Oklahoma State, Oral Roberts, Pittsburg State, Southeast Missouri, South Dakota State, and Tulsa.

“This weekend we’re not looking for much, we’ll train through the weekend for the most part,” said Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson. “We’ve been going four to five weeks straight now. So, we’ll train through the weekend and get ready for the LSU meet and our last home meet.”

Following the marks produced by the Razorbacks at the Mt. SAC Relays, Arkansas currently ranks No. 1 in event rankings for the 400m and 400m hurdles with four-person averages of 50.68 and 58.27 in those two events. The Razorbacks also rank No. 2 in the 800m (2:03.75) and No. 5 in the 100m hurdles (13.33).

“Those event rankings and marks across the board are real good,” stated Johnson. “We know it’s going to come down to the performance when it really matters and that is what our goal is set on. But I think it bodes well that we’re doing the right things at the right times to be considered in the top 10.

“Our goal is to stay in the top 10 nationally and finish the season among the top four.”

Sanaria Butler became the seventh Razorback under coach Johnson to produce a sub-50 second time in the 400m with her 49.86 runner-up finish. In the 800m, Sanu Jallow-Lockhart registered her fourth career sub-2 minute time with a 1:59.70, the second fastest of her career behind the UA record 1:59.29 she set in 2024.

Currently, the pair of Razorbacks rank No. 3 in the 400m and No. 7 in the 800m on the 2026 world outdoor list.

Event leaders for Arkansas in the 100m hurdles and 400m hurdles are Simone Ballard (13.14w) and Saira Prince (55.86).

Ballard and Prince will contest the 100m hurdles at the John McDonnell Invitational along with Gabriella Cunningham. Racing in the 400m hurdles are Morgan Herbst and Rae-Anne Serville.

Asia Thomas, who leads the Razorbacks in the 100m with an 11.33w from the Mt. SAC Relays, will race in that event as well as the 200m on Friday along with teammates Ryan Jennings and Taejha Badal.

An Invitational 800m will include the Arkansas pair of Ainsley Erzen and Madeleine Gear.