Razorbacks battle gusting winds at Arkansas Spring Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE – Despite windy conditions the Razorbacks produced impressive marks at the Arkansas Spring Invitational held Saturday at John McDonnell Field.

In the field events, where gusting winds can be a hinderance, John Kendricks and Kason O’Riley moved onto the UA all-time top 10 in the pole vault and high jump, respectively.

Kendricks, a freshman, won the pole vault with a clearance of 17-0.75 (5.20) and then missed three attempts at 17-4.5 (5.30). The winning height ties Kendricks in the No. 10 position on the UA all-time list with Mark McGahee (1990) and P.J. Brown (2005).

Kendricks has an outdoor best of 17-1 from high school and set an overall career best of 17-8.5 (5.40) twice during the recent indoor season. Razorback Yariel Soto Torrado placed second in the pole vault at 16-0.75 (4.90).

O’Riley finished second in the high jump with a career best clearance of 7-2.5 (2.20), the same height as winner Brady Palen of Wichita State. Both jumpers missed the next height of 7-3.75 (2.23).

The mark by O’Riley, who had a previous outdoor best of 7-2.25  (2.19), moves him to equal No. 8 on the UA all-time list with Ken LeGassey from 2015.

Razorback victories also included William Spencer in the 110m hurdles, Steven McElroy in the 200m, and the 4 x 400m relay.

Spencer clocked 13.78w in the 110m hurdles with an aiding wind of 5.6 mps as teammate Elijah Morris finished second in 13.84w.

McElroy won his section of the 200m in 20.65w (2.5 wind) with Tai Brown third in 21.19w. Tevijon Williams won another section of the 200m in 20.80w (4.7 wind) with TJ Tomlyanovich third in 21.08w and Brandon Battle fourth in 21.12w.

Racing with a pair of squads in the 4 x 400m relay, Arkansas claimed the victory in 3:08.98 with a foursome of Lance Lang, McElroy, Spencer (46.96), and Battle (47.46).

Indian Hills CC placed second in 3:10.75 while the second Razorback crew finished third in 3:10.84. Running on the Arkansas B squad were Jack Turner, Tomlyanovich, Connor Washington, and Grant Williams.

In the 100m, the Razorback tandem of Lang (10.03w) and James Benson II (10.18w) placed second and third behind a 9.98w for Traunard Folson of Indian Hills CC with an aiding wind of 4.8 mps. Washington finished sixth in 10.28w.

Riley Wells ran 3:56.23 for second place in the 1,500m Invitational behind a winning time of 3:50.91 by Evert Silva of Oklahoma City with Tate Barr of Oklahoma State third in 3:57.16.