South Central Region honors for Chris Johnson, Rachel Glenn

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson and Razorback high jumper Rachel Glenn received South Central Region honors as announced by USTFCCCA on Thursday.

In his first year as head coach, following 12 seasons as an assistant at Arkansas, Johnson swept SEC and NCAA Indoor team titles. The Razorbacks also led entries into the NCAA Indoor with 17 athletes in nine events.

Arkansas scored 55 points in defending the NCAA Indoor championship the Razorbacks won in 2023. Arkansas totaled a leading 19 All-America honors, 12 of which were first-team honors, while having a pair of individual national champions in Amber Anning (400m) and Glenn (high jump).

In the 400m, Arkansas accomplished a first-ever 1-2-3 indoor sweep with Anning, Nickisha Pryce, and Rosey Effiong which supplied 24 points. The same trio finished 6-7-8 in the 200m for an additional six team points.

At the SEC Indoor Championships, Arkansas claimed the title by 51 points over runner-up Florida. The Razorbacks totaled 131 points, which included 31 from the 400m with a 1-2-3-4-7 finish.

The 4 x 400m relay team produced a collegiate-leading time of 3:25.59, plus ran four of the top 10 times during the 2024 indoor season.

After equaling her career best of 6-4.5 (1.94) as silver medalist in the SEC Indoor meet, Glenn became the first Razorback to win the women’s NCAA Indoor high jump.

Facing the collegiate record holder and defending national champion in Texas A&M’s Lamara Distin, Glenn battled for the title as she equaled the collegiate record of 6-6.75 (2.00) to earn the victory.

In breaking the meet record of 6-6 (1.98) set in 2009 by Destinee Hooker of Texas, Glenn first equaled her career best and then set a PR of 6-5.5 (1.97) before achieving the collegiate record height on a first attempt.

Glenn is equal No. 3 on the U.S. all-time indoor list, and equal No. 7 on the U.S. absolute list with indoor and outdoor marks. She also bettered the American collegiate record of 6-6 set by Hooker, as well as the absolute American collegiate record of 6-6.25 (1.99) set by Arizona’s Brigetta Barrett in 2013.

After missing the 2023 season due to injury, Glenn competed in four events during the conference meet. In addition to high jump silver, Glenn was a member of the silver medal 4 x 400m relay, supplying a 51.46 second leg split, finished seventh in the 60m hurdles, and added a 23.03 career best in 200m prelims.

Award winners were determined by a vote of USTFCCCA member coaches following the conclusion of the 2024 NCAA DI Indoor Track & Field Championships at the TRACK at New Balance in Boston. Performances from both the NCAA Championships and the regular season were considered.