Racing in an elite 5k field, Gregory nearly breaks UA record
WALNUT, California – Razorback Lauren Gregory just missed breaking the Arkansas school record by 0.07 of a second as she placed eighth in an elite 5,000m field on Friday evening at the Mt. SAC Relays with a career best of 15:25.17.
Dominique Scott still maintains a hold on the UA record with her 15:25.10 from 2016.
Finishing as the third best collegian in the race, Gregory moves to No. 2 on the Arkansas all-time list. She was previously at No. 4 with her time of 15:42.45 from 2019.
“To run 15:25 and just miss our school record held by two-time Olympian Dominique Scott by seven hundredths of a second is just the slimmest of margins in track and field,” said Arkansas women’s head coach Lance Harter.
“She has more opportunities here in the future. There were two other good collegians she raced against today that she will face again in the near future. It was a great final.”
Karissa Schweizer won the race in a world-leading 15:02.77 for 2022 ahead of Emily Infeld, runner-up in 15:05.80 as the fourth-fastest time this season, and Laura Galvan, third in 15:09.80.
Colorado’s Abby Nichols was the top collegian in the field, placing fifth in 15:15.95 with Alabama’s Mercy Chelangat sixth in 15:17.28.
“Once we go rolling, it felt natural to keep rolling with them, trying to respond and run how I could run,” noted Gregory. “This was a good first outdoor 5k for the season. My last one was at NCAA Indoor and it’s a completely different feel. It’s the same distance, but a completely different race.
“So, it was fun to feel that again, get in the train and keep rolling. I hope for a little faster next time, but we’re just getting started. So, just keep building on that, hopefully.”
Nichols, now No. 8 on the all-time collegiate list, held the collegiate leading time of 15:27.11 for the 2022 outdoor season heading into this week. That mark was lowered to 15:21.47 by Oklahoma State’s Taylor Roe on Thursday evening at the Bryan Clay Invitational. Nichols reclaimed it with her performance at Mt. SAC.
Behind Gregory were Natosha Rogers, ninth in 15:27.23, and Arkansas alum Taylor Werner, 15th with a 15:43.10.
“It was great, and it was such a neat experience,” stated Gregory. “You don’t get that all the time, especially in college. To even have collegians in that race who are absolutely amazing.
“It’s brilliant to line up next to the people you watched on the screen, thinking they are so fast. Then you’re toeing the line with them. That was very special. I was trying to pick up some things they were doing, thinking ‘ok, I need to do that.’”
Isabel Van Camp won another section of the 5,000m with an outdoor debut of 15:54.70, which betters her indoor best of 15:55.02 set earlier this year. Sydney Thorvaldson placed eighth in the race with a 16:12.38.
Arkansas alum Shafiqua Maloney finished second the 400m with a 51.89, behind the winning time of 51.63 by Nicole Yeargin of Hurdle Mechanic. Paris Peoples was the top collegian in third with a 52.01. Also racing for the Razorbacks were Rosey Effiong (52.24) and Morgan Burks-Magee (53.34).
Amanda Fassold equaled the winning height of 13-11.25 (4.25) in the pole vault and finished third based on misses. Michigan’s Brooke Tjerrild claimed the victory with Miranda Miller of Cal State Bakersfield runner-up.
The previous day, competing in the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate at Long Beach State, Mackenzie Hayward tied for first place and was the top collegian in the field with a clearance of 13-9.25 (4.20).
After improving her career best in the steeplechase earlier this week at Azusa Pacific, Logan Jolly finished third in the 1,500m at Mt. SAC with a 4:18.78. Kennedy Thomson won another section of the 1,500m in 4:22.67, placing fifth overall, with teammate Krissy Gear offering pacing assistance.
Jayla Hollis ran 13.30 in the 100m hurdles for fourth place, while Yoveinny Mota did not finish. In the prelims Hollis ran 13.22 as runner-up in her heat while Mota won her heat in 13.23.
Baylark finished seventh in the 200 with a 23.15. Other Razorbacks racing in the event included Hollis (23.65), Reid (23.67), and Mota (24.00).
Quinn Owen posted a 2:08.49 to place fifth in her section of the 800m, finishing 17th overall.
In the prelims of the 100m, Baylark advanced to the final with an overall leading time of 11.13w (2.6) while Reid posted an 11.53 to finish 17th.
The Arkansas 4×100 relay won its prelim heat in 44.35 with a crew of Effiong, Baylark, Hollis, and Reid.
