Wayne Pinnock victory produces indoor career best, world leader

ALBUQUERQUE – Razorback junior Wayne Pinnock started his 2024 campaign with a world-leading victory of 27 feet, 4.5 inches (8.34), improving his previous indoor best by half an inch during the first day of the New Mexico Collegiate Classic.

Pinnock only had three attempts in the competition where he registered his winning mark on his second attempt after a foul on a possibly longer mark in the first round. In the third round, Pinnock reached a distance of 26-4.25 (8.03).

“This is a very good season opener, and I’m very grateful for that,” stated Pinnock, who led the world long jump outdoor list in 2023 with his career best of 28-0.25 (8.54). “I’m just going back to the drawing board, getting my approach right.

“This is a location I had opened last year with, so I always wanted to come back here and show the world what I can do. It was a good day with a personal best. I’m forever grateful, I prayed about it, and came out here and executed.”

The previous world best for the 2024 season was 26-9.25 (8.16) set by Colombia’s Arnovis Dalmero. In improving his indoor best by half an inch, Pinnock remains in the No. 10 position on the collegiate all-time list as well as the No. 3 Jamaican indoors and No. 4 on the Arkansas all-time list.

In 2023, Pinnock opened his season with a 26-7 (8.10) victory in Albuquerque, then returned to the venue for the NCAA Indoor Championships, where he placed fourth with his indoor best of 27-4 (8.33).

Outdoors in 2023, Pinnock established the world leading mark during the qualifying round of the World Athletics Championships. In the final, he claimed the silver medal with a 27-10.75 (8.50) distance.

“Being at Worlds last summer gave me the motivation, especially after getting silver and finishing off with the world lead,” noted Pinnock. “Now I have a calm attitude when I compete.

“Today I was working some things technically, getting my sprinting better. I’ve been doing tremendously well in practice. From last year, I’m looking way much better.”

Runner-up to Pinnock was a mark of 25-4.75 (7.74) by Isaac Grimes while the next best collegian was Kelsey Daniel of Texas in third place with a 25-0.5 (7.63). Razorback teammate Link Lindsey finished 10th with a leap of 23-4 (7.11).

Kason O’Riley led a trio of Arkansas entries in the high jump. A clearance of 7-1.5 (2.17) placed O’Riley runner-up to Louiville’s Brion Stephens, who won with a 7-3.25 (2.22) bar.

Opening with a first attempt clearance of 6-9.5 (2.07), O’Riley needed a pair of attempts in making 6-11.5 (2.12) and 7-1.5 (2.17). Three misses at 7-3.25 followed for O’Riley, who has an indoor best of 7-2.25 (2.19).

Andrew Hughes tied for fifth, making 6-9.5, while Tomas Ferrari tied for ninth in clearing 6-7.5 (2.02).

On the track, Tevijon Williams set a career best of 20.84 seconds to win his Invitational section and place seventh overall. Williams just missed the Arkansas all-time top 10 by a tenth of a second while bettering his previous best of 20.86 set last weekend.

Connor Washington just missed by indoor best of 21.03 placing third in the first Invitational section in 21.05 to finish 14th overall.

In the unseeded 200m, Brandon Battle claimed his section in 21.39 to place 10th overall. In the unseeded 400m, Wyatt Green led a trio of Razorbacks with a 48.66. Ethan Carney followed with a 49.50 and Isaac Carney clocked 49.55.

The second day of the New Mexico Collegiate Classic starts at 12:05 p.m. (CT) with the 60m hurdle prelims followed by the 60m prelims at 12:40 p.m. (CT).