Whittaker, Robinson impress with wins at Razorback Invitational

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas delivered impressive performances over a range of events during the Razorback Invitational on Saturday, punctuated by a world-leading 3:27.47 in the 4 x 400m relay.

Isabella Whittaker set an indoor career best of 51.29 to claim a 400m victory over a pair of Arkansas alums. Sporting a previous indoor best of 51.69, Whittaker moved to No. 7 on the UA all-time list with her winning time.

Rosey Effiong finished behind Whittaker in 51.67 while Amber Anning won another section in 51.31 to place second overall.

Later, Whittaker split 50.45 on the second leg of the 4 x 400m relay after Rachel Glenn opened with a 52.78. Then Sanaria Butler covered the third leg in 52.33 while Sanu Jallow-Lockhart closed out the victory over Georgia, who set a school record with a 3:27.95 performance.

Nia Robinson set a career best of 44-0 (13.41) to win the triple jump as she came within four inches of the school record (44-4 | 13.51) set by Gi-Gi Johnson (née Miller) in 2001. Robinson is currently No. 2 on the UA all-time list in both the long jump and triple jump.

Paityn Noe ran an impressive mile as she posted a time of 4:34.02 to place second in the fifth section of the mile behind a 4:33.05 for LSU’s Lorena Rangel Batres. Noe, who had a previous indoor best of 5:02.25, moves to No. 7 on the UA all-time list.

The overall winner of the mile was Arkansas alum Krissy Gear, who broke the facility and meet record with a 4:26.00. The previous Tyson facility record was shared between Christin Wurth-Thomas from 2008 and Leah O’Connor of Michigan State in 2015. Oregon’s Jessica Hull set the meet record of 4:31.03 in 2019.

Jallow-Lockhart finished third in the 800m Invitational with a 2:03.32 to finish behind pro Rachel Gearing (2:03.05) and Kentucky’s Janet Kepkemboi Amimio (2:03.27). Anna Podojil made her debut in the event and ran 2:04.63 to place fifth while Tiana LoStracco finished fifth in 2:04.70.

Glenn also raced in the 60m hurdles as she neared her PR of 8.14 with an 8.16 to place fourth. Skye Tolbert registered a career best 8.29 in sixth place after running a PR of 8.30 in the prelims while Simone Ballard ran 8.32 to place eighth after equaling her PR of 8.28 in the prelims.

Arkansas alum Taliyah Brooks ran 8.05 to claim the 60m hurdles Open race in the prelims over alum Destiny Huven, who ran 8.25. In the final, Brooks claimed the victory in 8.12 over an 8.29 for Huven.

A second Arkansas 4 x 400m crew clocked 3:31.30 in racing a pro group training in Fayetteville. Hurdle Mechanic won the section in 3:30.27 with a line-up of Dalilah Muhammad (54.02), Alexis Holmes (51.87), Andrenette Knight (52.88), and Stacey Ann Wiliams (51.50).

The Razorback foursome included Kayla Davis (53.83), Ashanti Denton (52.40), Aaliyah Pyatt (52.52) and Anna Podojil (52.55).