SEC Outdoor Championships next test for No. 10 Razorbacks

FAYETTEVILLE – No. 10 Arkansas is one of six conference schools ranked nationally among the top 10 heading into the SEC Outdoor Championships that will be hosted by Auburn this Thursday through Saturday.

Live coverage of the meet will be on SEC Network + each day while the final session on Saturday will be on SEC Network. Live results of the SEC Championships will be available through this link.

Defending SEC Outdoor champion Georgia is nationally ranked No. 1 and additional SEC schools nationally ranked include No. 2 Florida, No. 3 South Carolina, No. 5 LSU, No. 7 Texas A&M, No. 11 Texas, No. 12 Kentucky, No. 13 Tennessee, No. 22 Alabama, and No. 25 Auburn.

In conference rankings, which reflect a team’s depth, Florida is ranked No. 1 ahead of Georgia, Texas A&M, South Carolina, LSU, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Texas, Arkansas, and Alabama.

“The SEC meet is one we highlight on the calendar,” said Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson. “There are certain meets that qualify you for the postseason and one’s you work through, but the SEC Championships are one that we always want to go out and perform well at. I feel that the athletes we are taking are healthy as can be and we’re looking forward to it.

“We have to go out and compete with our best efforts. Everybody needs to do their job and take care of their business. They’re in a really good position and mind set to do that. They’ve trained hard all year. Now it’s about giving your best effort and executing on that day. It’s easier said than done because the competition is stiff. We feel we’re prepared and are ready to go.”

The top returning medalists for the Razorbacks are Sanu Jallow-Lockhart, twice a silver medalist in the 800m in 2024 and 2025, and Kaylyn Brown, a silver medalist in the 400m in 2024 and a bronze medalist in 2025.

As a Razorback, Jallow-Lockhart has finished runner-up in the 800m five times between indoor and outdoor SEC Championships, scoring 40 team points in the event.

During the 2026 SEC Indoor meet, Jallow-Lockhart finished runner-up (2:01.12) to teammate Analisse Batista (2:01.10) as they were separated by 0.02 of a second. Then at the NCAA Indoor meet, Jallow-Lockhart (2:00.54) placed second with Batista third (2:00.57) as they were separated by 0.03 of a second.

“I just want her to have some fun and stay focused on the task at hand,” noted Johnson. “Obviously, we’re very confident about that. The goal is to win each and every race that you’re in, so that’s always the goal. She’s done the work, so she just needs to be confident in who you are and go out and have some fun and compete. I’ll know she’ll do that.”

The 800m was a big point producer for Arkansas at the SEC Indoor with four Razorbacks totaling 25 points as Makenna Herbst finished fourth and Ainsley Erzen placed seventh behind the 1-2 finish for Batista and Jallow-Lockhart.

The 25 points in a single event was the most scored by a women’s team in 2026 indoor conference meets among power 4 conferences over 24 points for Miami in the ACC weight throw, Oregon in the Big 10 5,000m, and Kansas State in the Big 12 long jump.

Jallow-Lockhart is the top seed in the SEC with a 1:59.70 that ranks second among collegians behind a 1:59.58 by Lauren Tolbert of Duke. The three other Razorbacks – Erzen (2:03.80), Batista (2:03.88), and Herbst (2:04.00) – are seeded 10-11-13.

In the 400m, Sanaria Butler (49.86) and Brown (50.09) are seeded second and third in the conference with times that rank third and fourth nationally. Butler, who placed seventh last year, became the seventh Arkansas sprinter to register a sub-50 second time in the 400m.

Brown has a career best of 49.13 that ranks second on the all-time collegiate list and shares the U.S. collegiate record with Arkansas alum Britton Wilson.

Saira Prince earned a bronze medal in the 400m hurdles in the 2025 SEC Championships and is seeded fifth in the conference with a season best of 55.77. Morgan Herbst (56.78) and Rae-Anne Serville (56.99) are seeded 10th and 13th.

Maria Arboleda, a bronze medalist indoors, has claimed high jump wins in four of her five meets this outdoor season. Her season best of 6-0 (1.83) tied her for third place at the Mt. SAC Relays with Vashti Cunningham.

Heidi Hudson has season best marks of 5-11.5 (1.82) in the high jump and 20-7.75w (6.29) in the long jump this outdoor season and is seeded sixth in the high jump and ninth in the long jump. However, those two events are being held at the same time in the SEC meet on Friday.

Olivia Pielememier, who placed sixth in the 1,500m a year ago, will be joined by Madeleine Gear in that event. Josphine Mwaura will contest the 5,000m and 10,000m for the Razorbacks.