Sophomore (2021)
Outdoor: Produced a career best of 14-0 ¾ (4.29) in placing fifth at SEC Championships as Arkansas totaled 23 points in the event from four vaulters who placed 1, =2, 5, 7 … Qualified for NCAA Championships by placing 10th (13-8 ¼) in the NCAA West Preliminary round … Finished in a tie for 10th at the NCAA Championships with a clearance of 13-3 ½ … Started outdoor campaign placing ninth at the Texas Relays (13-7 ¾), then finished sixth at John McDonnell Invitational (13-5) and seventh in LSU Invitational (13-0 ¾).
Indoor: Set a career best of 14-0 (4.27) to place third in Tyson Invitational … Finished seventh in SEC Championships, clearing a height of 13-9 ¼ (4.20) … Opened season placing fifth in Arkansas Invitational (12-9 ½) followed by sixth place efforts in Wooo Pig Classic (13-2 ¼) and Arkansas Qualifier (13-5 ¼).
College
Competed for Baylor University as a freshman during 2020 indoor season … Coached by Brandon Richards … Finished ninth in Big 12 Indoor pole vault (13-3.5) … Runner-up in Iowa Invitational (13-5.5) and Texas A&M Invitational (13-10.5) … Dean’s List for Fall 2019 and Spring 2020 … Community service included Bears for Books, a volunteer reading program for elementary students.
Best marks, college: 13-10.5 (indoors)
High School
2019 graduate of Marcus High School in Flower Mound, Texas … Coached by Hal Theodore, Andrew Reinberg, and Brad Brevard … Established school record of 14-0 in pole vault … Two-time State 6A champion as a freshman and junior with winning heights of 12-9 (2016) and 13-6 (2018), while silver medalist as a sophomore with a 13-3 (2017) … Senior season placed sixth at 2019 State 6A Championships … Set meet record of 13-8 in claiming 2019 TAAF Games of Texas title, adding an inch to previous record set in 2014 … In 2018, won Millrose Games title indoors (13-5) and runner-up at Texas Relays with career best vault of 14-0 … Cleared 13-6 three times, winning district and area titles at that height prior to State title … As a sophomore in 2017, earned bronze medal in 17-18 age group at USATF National Junior Olympic Championships … Cleared 13-6 for first time in winning Region I-6A title … In her freshman season, cleared 12-9 indoors to win Lovejoy Texas Express meet … Placed third in Texas Relays (12-8) … Also cleared 12-9 in claiming Region I-6A and State 6A titles … Lettered four years in track and field … Also lettered and started two years in volleyball, earned All-District honor in 2016.
Best marks, HS: 14-0
Personal
Mackenzie Leigh Hayward was born July 4, 2000 in Chicago, Illinois … Hometown is Flower Mound, Texas … Daughter of Steve and Tanya Hayward … Has an older brother, Steve, who is a member of baseball team at Incarnate Word … Majoring in Biomedical Engineering … Enjoys outdoor activities, including paddle boarding and biking … Chose Arkansas for both athletic and academic aspirations.
