Razorbacks start Thursday with pair of finals in pole vault, 10k

EUGENE, Oregon – The No. 6 Arkansas Razorbacks compete at Hayward Field on Thursday and Saturday during the NCAA Championships this week with 12 athletes amid 14 entries. Thursday will feature a pair of key finals in the pole vault and 10,000m.

Arkansas has three Razorbacks in the pole vault, which starts at 6 p.m. (PT) and a pair in the 10k, which begins at 8:08 p.m. (PT).

Representing UA in the pole vault are Oregon native Amanda Fassold, MacKenzie Hayward, and Bailee McCorkle. Racing 25 laps in the 10,000m are Lauren Gregory and Isabel Van Camp.

This marks the third consecutive NCAA Outdoor Championships for the Razorbacks to advance three vaulters to the final and the seventh time since 2009.

“This will be Amanda’s first national championship on the Division 1 level, and she’s done a great job thus far,” stated Arkansas women’s head coach Lance Harter. “The potential she has down the road is phenomenal. Coach Compton thinks she is the next great one.

“Mackenzie and Bailee have both been at this level before, but this is a tough place to vault. It’s a beautiful facility, but because of the design it makes the wind swirl a bit. That can affect great vaulters.”

Semifinal races for Arkansas include Krissy Gear in the 1,500m, Logan Jolly in the 3,000m steeplechase, Yoveinny Mota in the 100m hurdles, Jada Baylark in the 100m, the tandem of Morgan Burks-Magee and Rosey Effiong in the 400m, Britton Wilson in the 400m hurdles, and the 4 x 400 relay.

All four members of the collegiate record the Razorbacks set in the 4 x 1,500m relay during the Penn Relays Carnival have qualified in an individual event this weekend.

“I think that the Penn Relays turned out to be a great positive experience and confirmation that these kids are truly special to break the collegiate record as a unit. As a foursome there is a lot of confidence and positive momentum heading into competition this weekend.

“For Isabel (5,000m) this will be her first experience at the national championships in an individual event and she is super excited. Krissy is an old hand at the NCAA meet and she has very lofty goals as does Lauren, who is doubling in the 5 and 10k. Logan is super excited about the steeplechase.”

Recent form chart predictions by Track & Field News favor Wilson to win the 400m hurdles and Gregory to capture the 10,000m. Wilson, the 2022 SEC Outdoor Runner of the Year, enters the meet as the current collegiate leader in the 400m hurdles with a 53.75 performance, that served as the world-leading time. Gregory impressed with her 10k debut of 32:34.21 to win the Stanford Invitational.

Razorback scorers in the form chart include Fassold, fourth in the pole vault; Gear, fourth in 1,500m; Jolly, fifth in the steeplechase; Gregory, fourth in the 5,000m; Effiong, eighth in the 400m; and the 4 x 400 relay fourth.

ESPN Streams | NCAA Championships | Thursday | June 9 | CT listed

7:30 p.m. Women’s day 1

https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/7713f36a-e4cc-4fe2-9cb3-905fbe62caf6

8 p.m. Women’s Pole Vault

https://www.espn.com/watch/player/_/id/58ba1504-b0f6-45c9-b4ae-9b247f33a06f