2026 (Freshman)
Outdoor: Qualified for NCAA West First Rounds in 800m, posted times of 2:03.12 and 2:04.55 … Set career best 2:01.74 to place eighth in 800m at SEC Championships, time ranks fourth on UA all-time list … Improved 400m career best to 53.65 to place fourth at Arkansas Twilight … Runner-up in 800m (2:04.00) at LSU Invitational … Placed eighth in 800m (2:05.03) at Mt. SAC Relays … Posted 54.04 in 400m at 44 Farms Invitational and ran on fourth place 4 x 400m relay (3:33.06) that was second Razorback relay in race … Won 800m in 2:04.22 at Clyde Hart Classic … Runner-up in 800m (2:08.10) at UTSA Invitational.
Indoor: Member of distance medley relay that placed 12th at NCAA Championships (11:04.32) … Fourth in 800m (2:05.24) at SEC Championships, also member of seventh place DMR (11:00.61) … Member of UA record 10:44.09 in distance medley relay that placed second at Arkansas Qualifier, split 2:05.03 on 800m leg … Finished sixth in 800m (2:03.40) at Tyson Invitational, which ranks No. 11 on UA all-time list, and ran on 4 x 400m relay (3:33.48) that claimed University division … Third in 800m (2:03.41) at Wooo Pig Classic … Member of DMR (10:51.43) that placed second at Razorback Invitational … Razorback debut produced a 1:28.69 in 600m at Arkansas Invitational to place third while time ranks No. 4 on UA all-time list.
HIGH SCHOOL
2025 graduate of Carlsbad HS in California … Lettered in track and field four years, coached by Matt Large … Broke four school records … Time of 2:02.28 in 2025 was fourth best among high marks that season … Indoors in 2025, lead high school in 600m with 1:28.61 while mark of 2:03.82 in 800m ranked second and 1:13.07 in 500m ranked sixth … On all-time indoor list, her 600m time ranked as No. 5 performer and 800m time ranks as No. 9 performer … 2025 USATF U20 champion in 800m (2:02.48) … 800m champion (2:02.28) at 2025 CIF State meet and member of fourth place 4 x 400m relay … Also claimed titles in 800m at Arcadia Invitational (2:05.08) and Mt. SAC Relays (2:04.90) in senior season … Indoors, won 600m (1:28.61) at Millrose Games, runner-up in 800m (2:03.83) at New Balance Nationals … 2024 USATF National Junior Olympic winner in 800m (2:06.46) … Runner-up in 800m (2:07.23) at 2024 CIF State Championships.
Career best marks: 53.92 (400m), 1:31.56 (600m), 2:02.28 (800m)
Indoor: 1:13.07 (500m), 1:28.61 (600m), 2:03.83 (800m)
PERSONAL
Makenna Taylor Herbst was born December 7, 2006 in Carlsbad, California … Daughter of David and Brigette Herbst … Has a twin sister, Morgan, who is also a member of team … Life ambition is the Olympics with career plans including professional track career and maybe starting a business … Hobbies include art and music … Chose Arkansas since the program is the best fit for her to go as far as she can.
