Razorbacks defend NCAA Indoor title, claim Arkansas' 50th national T&F championship

BOSTON – Arkansas successfully defended its indoor national championship with a 55-50 victory over Florida on Saturday, producing the initial NCAA team title for Razorback first-year head coach Chris Johnson in the process.

This marks the fifth NCAA Indoor championship for the Arkansas women, and eighth title overall. Indoor team titles have been claimed by the Razorbacks in 2015, 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024.

The national championship also marks a milestone as the 50th in program history for the Arkansas men’s and women’s track and field program.

“I’m very proud of this group,” stated Johnson, and assistant coach for 12 seasons with the Razorbacks prior to becoming head coach this season. “To have that type of expectation in my first year, we know that’s the goal. To pull it off here in Boston is fantastic.

“It’s not all about me, I’m just the conductor. I have a great staff and a great group of people working with me. I’m fortunate enough to have them, we work together. I think that’s more important and that goes for the whole staff – athletic training, nutrition, track and field staff, and administration. Everybody is working together to make sure these kids have a wonderful experience.”

A sweep of the top three places in the 400m generated 24 points for the Razorbacks with Amber Anning claiming gold in 50.79, Nickisha Pryce earning silver in 51.00, and Rosey Effiong adding bronze in 51.03.

“I thought we could do 1-2-3-4 again like we accomplished at SECs,” noted Johnson. “Going 1-2-3 was good enough, with great respect to the other kids in the field.

“These young ladies are very special and we knew that coming into the season. They went out and executed and we’re ecstatic about that.”

It’s the first time at NCAA Indoor for a women’s team to claim the top three places in a 400m final. There have been other 1-2, 1-3, or 2-3 combinations by different programs, but never a 1-2-3 finish for one school.

Previously, Arkansas produced a 2-3 finish in 2011 with Regina George and Shelise Williams. Last year, the Razorbacks finished 1-4-6 with Britton Wilson, Rosey Effiong, and Amber Anning.

The 400m trio returned 30 minutes later to place 6-7-8 in the 200m for an additional six points, bring their combined total to 30 points from two events.

Saturday’s session started with a collegiate and American collegiate record victory for Rachel Glenn in the high jump as she soared over 6-6.75 (2.00) in defeating the defending national champion, Texas A&M’s Lamara Distin of Jamaica, who set the collegiate record during the recent SEC Championships.

Glenn, who surpassed the Olympic qualifying standard, cleared six bars first attempts, which included her equaling a career best and UA record of 6-4.25 (1.94).

Then she required a second attempt at 6-5.5 (1.97) while Distin moved into the lead with a first attempt make. That height moved Glenn to equal No. 4 on the all-time collegiate list with seven other collegians.

Glenn reclaimed the lead and ultimate victory with a 6-6.75 (2.00) first attempt make in equaling the collegiate record while Distin missed all three attempts at her career best and Jamaican national record height.

Glenn ranks equal No. 3 on the U.S. all-time list with the third best performance as well. She shares the spot with Coleen Sommer (1998) and Vashti Cunningham (2021). Glenn only trails the 6-7.5 (2.02) American record held by Chaunte Lowe (2012) and a 6-7 (2.01) height by Tisha Waller (1998).

“We needed a spark and early today we got that with Rachel Glenn,” said Johnson. “This young lady is fantastic. To accomplish that and get the Olympic A standard is one thing, but to win and defeat the defending champion is special. You can’t get any better than that.”

Additional points for the Razorbacks included Destiny Huven finishing fourth in the 60m hurdles for five key points as she set a career best of 7.99 seconds and moved to an equal No. 4 on the UA all-time list.

Florida’s Grace Stark finished second in the race at 7.81 behind USC’s Jasmin Jones (7.77).

The night was capped with a leading time of 3:25.99 for Arkansas in the 4 x 400m relay, but a disqualification prevented the Razorbacks from adding 10 points to its winning tally as well as becoming the first school to win the event three consecutive years indoors.

Arkansas’ foursome included Kaylyn Brown (51.47), Joanne Reid (51.51), Sanu Jallow (51.74), and Effiong (51.17). Brown’s carry on the first leg would have equaled the collegiate all-time best established last year by Anning when the Razorbacks produced a world all-time best of 3:21.75.

SEC relay champion South Carolina ended up with the NCAA win in 3:26.20 while USC finished second from another section in 3:27.62 with Houston third at 3:28.28.