Sydney Thorvaldson claims SEC Indoor 5,000m with meet record

FAYETTEVILLE – A meet record of 15 minutes, 42.45 seconds by Sydney Thorvaldson generated a victory in the 5,000m on the first day of the SEC Indoor Championships at Randal Tyson Track Center.

Thorvaldson bettered the field by over 11 seconds with Alabama’s Brenda Tuwei runner-up in 15:53.86. She broke the meet record of 15:43.64 set by Alabama’s Mercy Chelengat in 2022.

Women’s team scoring through six of 17 finals have the Razorbacks leading with 37 points followed by Florida (30), Texas A&M (27), Kentucky and Ole Miss (26.5 each).

Marin Chamberlin and Hannah Estes combined for 11 team points in the pole vault. Chamberlin tied for second with a clearance of 13-10 (4.22) and Estes cleared the same height in placing fifth. Amanda Fassold and Rachel Homoly both cleared 13-6.25 (4.12) in placing 10th and 13th, respectively.

Nia Robinson hit a mark of 21-1.5 (6.44) to claim a silver medal in the long jump as she finished behind Florida’s Claire Bryant winning distance of 22-0.75 (6.72).

Sara Van Aken finished fifth in the pentathlon with a career best score of 3,939 points. She bettered her previous score of 3,885.

Arkansas finished fifth in the distance medley with a crew of Mary Ellen Eudaly (3:31.75), Ashanti Denton (52.33), Chachi Gonzales (2:12.44), and Mia Cochran (4:41.49).

Qualifying for Saturday finals went really well for the Razorbacks. Particularly in the 400m as Arkansas advanced five to the final of eight in places 1-2-3-4-7. Amber Anning, the collegiate leader this season, led the field with a 50.86.

Nickisha Pryce followed with a career best of 50.90, which places her No. 4 on the UA all-time and No. 2 among Jamaicans all-time. Pryce, who had a previous best of 51.04 from earlier this months, only trails the Jamaican national record of 50.79 by Stephanie Ann McPherson in 2022. She moved ahead of a 50.93 by Sandie Richards from 1993.

Also advancing in the 400m were Rosey Effiong (51.19), Kaylyn Brown (51.58), and Joanne Reid (51.80).

Coming back in the 200m later in the meet, three Razorbacks advanced to the final. Effiong set a career best of 22.64 to lead the field, moving to No. 3 on the UA all-time list. Anning followed with a 22.77 while Pryce set a career best of 22.94, moving to No. 6 on the UA all-time list.

In the mile Tiana LoStracco advanced with a 4:41.38 in posting the leading time overall. Three Razorbacks moved to the final of the 800m with Ainsley Erzen leading the way at 2:04.18, followed by Sanu Jallow (2:05.73) and Analisse Batista (2:06.07). A pair of hurdlers advanced in the 60m hurdles with Destiny Huven (8.13) and Rachel Glenn (8.21).