Razorback relay crew earns National Athlete of the Week
FAYETTEVILLE – Producing the world’s fastest ever outdoor 4 x 400m relay time in the month of March and the fifth-fastest collegiate performance ever, the Arkansas quartet of Sanaria Butler, Analisse Batista, Kaylyn Brown, and Sanu Jallow-Lockhart earned USTFCCCA’s National Athlete of the Week honor.
Establishing the world-leading time for 2026 with its 3:22.06 victory in the Clyde Hart Classic hosted by Baylor University, the Razorbacks currently hold world-leading marks for the 2026 indoor and outdoor seasons.
“They just went out there to run with no pre-conceived notion of running that fast,” stated Arkansas women’s coach Chris Johnson. “We went out there to have a really good competition and compete hard. Those ladies did that and shows the potential this group of young ladies has. We’re very proud of what they were able to accomplish.
“To run this fast in our first outdoor relay is a bit of a surprise. We know we have the personnel to run fast, but this early is very impressive. It bolds well with what we’re capable of down the line.”
Indoors, with the same foursome in a different order, Arkansas won the NCAA Indoor 4 x 400m relay in 3:23.63, which ranks No. 2 on the all-time indoor collegiate list behind the collegiate record and world best of 3:21.75 set by Arkansas in March of 2023, which is the fastest ever indoor relay that month.
The Razorbacks also hold the outdoor collegiate record with a 3:17.96 from the 2025 NCAA Championships.
A combined split of 1:42.24 for Butler and Batista on the first two legs averaged 51.12 for the Arkansas pair and had them leading the Captain Athletics pro group by two seconds at that stage of the race.
Brown increased the Razorback lead with a 49.73 third leg while Jallow-Lockhart completed the winning effort with a 50.09 on the anchor leg.
The result was a facility record for Arkansas in a meet named after Baylor’s legendary coach Clyde Hart, who’s key event was the 4 x 400m relay. The previous Hart facility record of 3:25.08 was set in 2022 by the Hurdle Mechanic professional squad.
“God bless Clyde Hart and all the things he was able to accomplish as a coach, especially in one of his favorite events and one that he was well known for with the 4 x 400m relay,” noted Johnson.
“Hopefully we paid tribute to what he’s done as a coach and his legacy to be able to run that fast this early on the track that bears his name.”
The Captain Athletics crew, which included a trio of Arkansas alums, placed second in 3:26.09 with Britton Wilson, Nickisha Pryce, and Shafiqua Maloney competing on legs 2-3-4.
Brown has been on the three fastest relays produced outdoors by Arkansas, as anchor leg (49.04) on the collegiate record, third leg on the second (50.46) and third (49.73) best Razorback efforts.
“Kaylyn is a special athlete who is an Olympian and gold medalist on the relay,” said Johnson. “She’s an integral piece to what we’re trying to accomplish. She split 49.7 and is getting back to form and what we’re accustomed to with her.
“We appreciate her efforts, especially coming off a rocky indoors. I think she’s starting the outdoor season off right.”
