UA records broken by Noe & Olijade at Tyson Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE – A pair of Arkansas school records were broken during the first day of the Tyson Invitational as Paityn Noe shattered the 3,000m with an 8:47.17 victory while Funminiyi Olajide finished as the top collegian in the long jump with a record leap of 21 feet, 10.75 inches (6.67).

Noe’s winning time bettered the UA record of 8:52.57 set by Dominique Scott in 2015 while Olajide bettered the UA record of 21-6.75 (6.57) set by Taliyah Brooks in 2018.

In winning the race by over 12 seconds, Noe produced the fastest time by a freshman on an banked track as she bettered the previous best of 8:50.70 set in 2024 by Alabama’s Doris Lemngole, who won the NCAA title in the steeplechase last year. Noe’s previous best from high school was 9:34.08.

Runner-up to Noe in 8:59.58 was Arizona State freshman Judy Chepkoech while Arkansas alum Logan Jolly finished third in 9:01.52 to better her previous indoor best of 9:03.02 set in 2022. Another freshman, Leah Jeruto of Oklahoma, placed fourth in 9:03.04.

In addition to the 3,000m school record, Noe ranks No. 2 in the 5,000m (15:23.41) and No. 7 in the mile (4:34.02) on the Arkansas all-time lists.

Olajide finished runner-up to professional Jasmine Moore, the bronze medalist in the long jump at the Paris Olympics. Moore, a Florida alum, won with a distance of 22-3.5 (6.79) while another Florida alum, Claire Bryant, placed third in 21-9.5 (6.64).

Brooks finished fourth with a distance of 21-6.75 (6.57) that matched the school record she set in 2018. Current collegiate leader Anthaya Charlton of Florida placed fifth with a 21-6.25 (6.56) while 2024 NCAA Indoor champion Sydney Willits was sixth at 21-0.75 (6.42).

The series for Olajide produced three marks over 21-3 along with a trio of fouls. Her marks measured 21-4.25 (6.51) and 21-3.5 (6.49). Her previous career best was 21-5.25 (6.53).

Arkansas alum Amber Anning delivered a world-leading time of 50.57 to break the meet record of 50.80 set in 2024 by Alexis Holmes. Runner-up to Anning was Razorback Isabella Whittaker who produced a career best of 50.87 after running a PR of 51.29 at the Razorback Invitational.

During a week that had the season’s first sub-51 second times, Anning’s effort bettered a 50.76 by Lieke Klaver of the Netherlands as well as a 50.85 by Georgia’s Aaliyah Butler.

The rest of the talented 400m field had Jamaica’s Stacey Ann Williams (51.31) and Nickisha Pryce (51.71) finished third and fourth overall after each won different sections.

Sanaria Butler improved her career best to 51.95 as runner-up to alum Pryce while Joanne Reid placed third in the section at 52.19 and finished seventh overall. Anna Podojil clocked a career best of 52.30 to place third in the section won by Williams and placed ninth overall.

Another Razorback freshman displaying fast times was Anya Jackson, who improved her career best in the 60m with a 7.24 in the prelim that moved her to No. 6 on the UA all-time list.

A time of 7.29 placed Jackson third in the final while TCU freshman Indya Mayberry won the race in 7.22. The semifinal had a collegiate leading time of 7.08 from LSU’s Tima Godbless over teammate Brianna Lyston’s 7.13.

In the 60m hurdles the Arkansas crew established PRs in the prelims and semifinal. Rachel Glenn posted a time of 8.13 in the semifinal that is equal No. 9 on the UA all-time list.

Saira Prince (8.21), Simone Ballard (8.23) and Skye Tolbert (825) all set career bests in the prelims of the hurdles. In the semifinal improvements were made by Ballard (8.20) and Tolbert (8.22).