Razorbacks collect seven medals in NACAC U23 Championships

SAN JOSÉ, Costa Rica – Razorbacks entered in the NACAC U23 Championships accounted for seven medals on the weekend, earning gold, three silver, and a trio of bronze medals in six events.

Medals were claimed by four current Razorbacks along with a pair of transfers who join the Arkansas program for the 2023-24 season.

A gold medal went to Romaine Beckford of Jamaica, who is a recent transfer to Arkansas from South Florida. Beckford cleared 7-3 (2.21) for the victory while new teammate Kason O’Riley earned a silver medal for Team USA with a 7-1.75 (2.18) clearance.

A pair of silver medals were claimed in the 4 x 400m relays as Joanne Reid ran the third leg of Jamaica’s relay while Connor Washington ran the third leg of the United States relay.

Jamaica women posted a time of 3:28.50 behind a meet record of 3:26.83 set by Team USA. In the men’s race, the Jamaicans won in 3:02.44 over a 3:03.84 for the United States.

Washington added a bronze medal in the 200m as he posted a time of 20.74 (1.7 wind) to finish behind Canadian Callum Robinson (20.52) and Jamaican Demar Francis (20.67), while ahead of USA teammate Brice Chabot (20.83).

A bronze medal went to Destiny Huven in the 100m hurdles as the Wisconsin transfer ran 13.19 (-0.2 wind). In the 400m final, Reid placed fourth in 54.10.

Leroy Russell II earned a bronze medal in the mixed 4 x 400m relay as he ran third leg on Canada’s 3:25.42 effort. Racing in the 800m, Russell finished sixth in 1:52.18.

Canadian Triana LoStracco, an Arkansas transfer from Bradley, finished fourth in the 1,500m with a 4:16.58 as she finished behind another Canadian, Holly MacGillivray, who clocked 4:15.99 for the bronze medal. American Addison Wiley won the race in a meet record of 4:05.84.

LONDON DIAMOND LEAGUE

Arkansas alum Krissy Gear made her Diamond League debut in the 3,000m steeplechase on Sunday, finishing sixth in the race with a time of 9:25.49.

Kenyan runners went 1-2 in the race with Jackline Chepkoech setting a meet record with a world-leading 8:57.35 while Beatrice Chepkoech clocked 9:04.34 as runner-up. Courtney Wayment placed fourth as the first American finisher with a 9:17.21.

After a runner-up finish with a career best in the 400m at the Monaco Diamond League on Friday, Shamier Little finished third over 400m hurdles in London with a time of 53.76.

Femke Bol of the Netherlands won the race in 51.45 to set multiple records while Jamaica’s Janieve Russell finished runner-up 53.75, just a fraction ahead of Little.

The European record in addition to a Diamond League and meet record were claimed by Bol as she moves to No. 2 performer with the No. 3 performance on the all-time world list.

Tara Davis-Woodhall finished third in the long jump with a leap of 22-0.75 (6.72), which shared the same distance for runner-up Brooke Buschkuehl of Australia. American Quanesha Burks won the event with a mark of 22-10.75 (6.98).

Even the secondary marks for Buschkuehl and Davis-Woodhall were close, a 22-0.25 (6.71) for the Australian and a 21-11.75 (6.70) for Davis-Woodhall.

The pole vault featured a pair of Arkansas alums with Tina Šutej and Sandi Morris placing third and equal sixth, respectively.

2022 European champion Wilma Murto of Finland cleared 15-9 (4.80) for the victory over Olympic and World champion Katie Moon, who cleared the same height, but needed three attempts.

Šutej, who currently ranks second in the event with 26 points for the Diamond League final, cleared 15-5.5 (4.71) on a first attempt after needing three tries at 15-1.75 (4.62). Morris, who is fifth in the pole vault Diamond League final standings with 18 points, cleared 14-9.5 (4.51) on a second attempt and missed three tries at 15-1.75.

SUNSET TOUR

Career best times were produced on Saturday evening in Los Angeles as a crew of Arkansas alums competed in middle distance races.

Logan Jolly registered a victory in the 3,000m steeplechase with a 9:40.14 clocking as she moved from third to first over the final lap of the race. Carmen Graves finished as runner-up in 9:40.45 as Jolly passed her in the final 15m of the race.

Carina Viljoen finished fourth in the 1,500m with a career best of 4:07.11 that moves her to No. 6 on the South African all-time list ahead of another Razorback alum, Dominique Scott (4:07.20). Viljoen’s previous best of 4:08.36 was set in 2022.

Racing in a second section of the women’s 1,500m, Katie Izzo won in a PR of 4:11.32 to better the 4:13.43 set last year in this meet.

A season best of 2:01.63 for Shafiqua Maloney placed her fourth in the 800m, as she just missed her St. Vincent and the Grenadines national record of 2:01.58 set in 2022.

Austen Dalquist posted a PR of 3:37.53 for 11th in the men’s 1,500m, his fourth career best this outdoor season. The previous best for Dalquist was 3:39.34.