Record weekend for Shawnti Jackson, Shafiqua Maloney
A pair of national records highlighted weekend track and field action for Arkansas as incoming Razorback freshman Shawnti Jackson won a pair of gold medals at the Pan American U20 Championships while alum Shafiqua Maloney improved her Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 800m national record in Memphis.
Racing in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Jackson anchored the United States 4 x 100m relay to an American record victory of 42.88 on Saturday evening. Then on Sunday, she established a meet record in winning the 200m title.
Jackson won the 200m final in 22.35 (1.6 wind) to defeat USA teammate Elise Cooper (22.80) and Canadian Emily Martin (23.75). The Pan Am U20 meet record performance by Jackson bettered the previous record of 22.70 set in 2011 by Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas.
Jackson’s performance ranks her No. 8 on the World U20 all-time list as she moves to No. 3 performer and No. 5 performance on the US U20 all-time list. On the US all-time high school list, Jackson is No. 3 behind Allyson Felix (22.11A) from 2003 and Adaejah Hodge (22.33i) set in the 2023 indoor season.
The career best time by Jackson improves upon the 22.48 she set to win the USATF U20 title in early July.
High School All-Time List
| 22.11 (A) | Allyson Felix | 2003 |
| 22.33i | Adaejah Hodge | 2023 |
| 22.35 | Shawnti Jackson | 2023 |
| 22.43 | Candace Hill | 2015 |
| 22.43 | Mia Brahe-Pedersen | 2023 |
United States U20 All-Time List
| 22.11 (A) | Allyson Felix (Calif HS) | 2003 |
| 22.17 | Sha’Carri Richardson (LSU) | 2019 |
| 22.18 | … Felix | 2004 |
| 22.28 | … Felix | 2004 |
| 22.35 | Shawnti Jackson (NC HS) | 2023 |
| 22.36 | … Felix | 2004 |
| 22.37 | … Richardson | 2019 |
| 22.39 | … Felix | 2004 |
| 22.39 | Sydney McLaughlin (Kentucky) | 2018 |
| 22.40i | Bianca Knight (Texas) | 2008 |
World U20 All-Time List
| 21.78 | Christine Mbomba (Nambia) | 2021 |
| 22.11 (A) | Allyson Felix (US) | 2003 |
| 22.17 | Sha’Carri Richardson (US) | 2019 |
| 22.18 (A) | Beatrice Masilingi (Nambia) | 2021 |
| 22.19 | Natalya Bochina (Soviet Union) | 1980 |
| 22.23 (A) | Favour Ofili (Nigeria) | 2021 |
| 22.33i | Adaejah Hodge (British VI) | 2023 |
| 22.35 | Shawnti Jackson (US) | 2023 |
| 22.37 | Sabine Rieger (East Germany) | 1982 |
| 22.39 | Sydney McLaughlin (US) | 2018 |
On Saturday, Jackson anchored the United States 4 x 100 to victory in 42.88 seconds, setting American U20 and Pan American U20 records in the process. It’s the first US U20 squad to break 43 seconds.
The time ranks as the No. 2 performer and No. 3 performance on the World U20 all-time list behind a pair of Jamaica marks of 42.58 and 42.59, both of which were set in 2022. The United States is now the No. 2 nation, moving ahead of Germany (43.27).
Runner-up to the US crew were Jamaica with a 45.23 while Canada finished third in 46.15.
Running the first three legs for the United States squad were Kaila Jackson (Georgia), Camryn Dickson (Texas A&M), and Avery Lewis (Pennsylvania HS).
They bettered the previous American U20 record of 43.28 set in 2022, which included S. Jackson on the anchor leg as the United States claimed a silver medal at the World U20 Championships behind Jamaica’s 42.59 ratified World U20 record.
The previous Pan American U20 record of 43.38 was set by the United States in 1999 when the meet was held in Tampa, Florida.
ED MURPHEY CLASSIC
Maloney improved her national record in the 800m as she produced her first sub-2-minute clocking with a 1:59.94 effort to place second. The previous national record of 2:01.58 was set by Maloney in Marietta, Georgia, in July of 2022.
Maloney split 58.54 over the first 400m of the race, just a couple of strides behind the pacer. Collegian Addy Wiley won the race in 1:59.00 after splitting 58.87 at 400m. Susan Aneno finished third in 1:59.95, just edged by Maloney.
Amber Anning registered a time of 51.87 to finish second in the Open 400m behind a 51.86 for Jenna Prandini. Katie Izzo ran 8:51.00 as runner-up in the 3,000m, setting an outdoor career best in the event. Jah-Nhai Perinchief produced a mark of 55-3.5 (16.85) for second place in the triple jump.
Ackera Nugent posted a time of 12.68 to place fourth in the 100m hurdles while Cindy Sember finished eighth with a 12.94. Sandi Morris finished fourth in the street pole vault held on Saturday with a clearance of 14-8.25 (4.48). The top three finishers all cleared the next bar of 15-0.25 (4.58).
Taliyah Brooks finished fourth in the long jump, reaching a distance of 21-0.5 (6.41). In the shot put, she placed eighth with a mark of 41-9.25 (12.73).
SIR WALTER MILER
Amon Kemboi pulled away from a tight mile field in Raleigh, North Carolina, over the final 200m to win the race in 3:57.84 during his outdoor debut at the distance. Crossing the 1,500m split in 3:43.45, Kemboi led the field comfortably down the homestretch.
Runner-up in 3:58.19 was Ben Allen while Dan Schaffer placed third in 3:58.57.
Krissy Gear led the women’s mile in the latter stages, splitting 4:09.82 at 1,500m, and finished second in 4:27.51 as club teammate Abby Nichols won in 4:26.80. Madie Boreman, the leader over the first three laps behind the pacer, placed third in 4:27.71.
Additional Arkansas alums in the race included Logan Jolly and Taylor Werner. Jolly split 4:17.03 at 1,500m and finished ninth in 4:34.38 during her outdoor debut at the distance. Werner placed 11th in 4:40.35 after a 1,500m split of 4:18.38.
