Pair of sprint meet records tumble at McDonnell Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE – Meet records at the John McDonnell Invitational fell in a couple of sprint events as Ackera Nugent claimed the 100m title in 11.13 seconds and Nickisha Pryce won a 400m race full of Razorbacks in 51.47 seconds.

“Ackera Nugent in the 100m was a fantastic effort,” stated Arkansas women’s head coach Lance Harter. “She was still accelerating in the last 30m. It just shows her strength and power continue to escalate.

“Close behind was Ariane Linton, a freshman, who had a breakthrough day in the 100m and 200m. So, nice progress by her.”

Nugent’s time shattered the previous meet record of 11.30 set by Semoy Hackett in 2010 when she competed for Lincoln (Mo). Arkansas alum Jada Baylark finished as runner-up in 11.24 while Razorback freshman Ariane Linton placed third in a career best of 11.31, which is No. 8 on the UA all-time list.

Nugent is currently No. 2 on the UA all-time list with her 11.12 set in Florida the previous week and she holds a career best of 11.09 in the event.

Pryce set a career best and moved to No. 8 on the UA all-time list in leading a first through fifth place finish by the Razorbacks. She bettered the meet record of 51.71 set by current teammate Tiana Wilson in 2021.

The rest of the Arkansas crew included Paris Peoples (52.19), Aaliyah Pyatt (53.36), T. Wilson (53.41), and Amber Anning (53.64).

“Nickisha Pryce set a record and continues to get better and better,” noted Harter. “She had a nice break through during the indoor, and now she is carrying that momentum to the outdoor.”

Rosey Effiong led a Razorback 1-2-3 sweep in the 200m, posting a winning time of 23.02 as Baylark finished second in 23.14. Linton added another career best effort as her 23.16 placed third and moved her to No. 10 on the UA all-time list.

Arkansas finished 1-2-3-5-6 in the pole vault as Kaitlyn Banas secured her second victory this season with a clearance of 13-9 (4.19). Mackenzie Hayward made the same height of 13-9 as runner-up while Amanda Fassold placed third with a 13-5 (4.09) height.

Clearing 13-1 (3.99) in the competition placed Marin Chamberlin and Bailee McCorkle in fifth and sixth place.

Another Razorback victory came in the 400m hurdles with Madison Langley-Walker posting a 57.90.

While Arkansas alum Shafiqua Maloney set a meet record in the 800m with a 2:03.20 victory, topping the previous mark of 2:03.47 set by Stephanie Brown (Nike) in 2015, current Razorback Lainey Quandt finished third overall with a career best of 2:05.58.

Arkansas freshman Ainsley Erzen established an outdoor PR of 2:08.20 in fifth place ahead of teammates Katie McCune (2:08.67), Analisse Batista (2:10.02), and Chachi Gonzales (2:10.30).

In the 1,500m, a pair of career best times were registered by Gracie Hyde and Claire McCune as they placed second and third behind Avryl Johnson of Kansas, who won in 4:18.78. Hyde ran 4:19.20 and C. McCune went 4:23.37.

Also in the race were Carmie Prinsloo (4:23.45) and Mary Ellen Eudaly (4:25.52), placing seventh and eighth.

“Really pleased with Gracie Hyde, who is typically known as a steeplechaser, but she just ran a four-second PR in the 1,500m and broke 4:20,” said Harter. “So, big steps there for her.

“We opened up our freshman Mary Ellen Eudaly, who ran 4:25, which is a good start. She has a lot more talent left to develop in the weeks to come. That was her first race of the outdoor season.”