Sydney Vaught wins 2nd SEC 5,000m title in record fashion

Shawn Price February 26, 2026

COLLEGE STATION – Arkansas senior Sydney Vaught claimed a second SEC Indoor 5,000m title during the first day of the conference meet and broke records along the way with a winning time of 15 minutes, 02.52 seconds.

Through five of 17 finals scored on Thursday, the No. 4 Razorbacks currently have 18 points. In addition to Vaught’s 10 points, Heidi Hudson added six with a bronze medal in the long jump while the Arkansas distance medley relay placed seventh for two more points.

Vaught moves to No. 9 performer on the all-time collegiate list and is the No. 5 performer among American collegians. Vaught produced the fastest collegiate time not run in Boston, at either Boston University or The Track at New Balance, which hosted the 2024 NCAA Indoor.

In winning the SEC title it marked the 21 title by Arkansas in the event by 15 Razorbacks. Vaught previously won the event in 2024 while Paityn Noe claimed the 2025 title in a meet, facility, and UA record of 15:11.27.

In chopping eight-plus seconds off Noe’s mark, Vaught won the race by nine-plus seconds over Florida’s Hilda Olemomoi (15:12.13) and Alabama’s Caren Kiplagat (15:12.56). Vaught’s previous best time of 15:42.45 was set in winning the 2024 SEC title.

Hudson produced a mark of 21-4 (6.50), which was just a quarter inch of her indoor best to finish third in the long jump. Texas A&M finished 1-2 with the tandem of Morgan Davis (21-6.75 | 6.57) and Machaeda Linton (21-4.25 | 6.51) while Alabama’s Caelyn Harris (21-3.5 | 6.49) placed fourth in the tightly contested event.

The Razorback foursome of Madeleine Gear (3:22.35), Morgan Herbst (54.33), Makenna Herbst (2:03.16), and Josphine Mwaura (4:40.77) placed seventh in a time of 11:00.61.

Hannah Estes equaled her indoor career best to tie for 15th in the pole vault with a clearance of 13-1.5 (4.00).

In the 200m prelims Asia Thomas set a career best of 23.36 as teammates Ryan Jennings and Taejha Badal posted times of 24.04 and 24.14. The cutoff time to make the eight-person final was 22.94.