Wilson claims Texas Relays 400m hurdle title with meet, school record

AUSTIN, Texas – Razorback sophomore Britton Wilson delivered an encore performance in winning the 400m hurdle final at the Texas Relays with a meet record of 54.37 seconds, improving the Arkansas school record she established the previous day, and becoming the No. 10 performer on the all-time collegiate list.

After a 54.65 in the Thursday prelim, Wilson had the blueprint for another stellar performance and delivered. She bettered the field by two-plus seconds in breaking the 54.60 Texas Relays record set in 2003 by Raasin McIntosh of Texas.

“It was really, really great,” noted Wilson. “The crowd had great energy and it was a great experience. I heard from a lot of friends and family after yesterday’s race. Everyone has been so supportive.

“My technique over the last four hurdles was a lot better today, but obviously there is still some work to do. I think technique will be my biggest think to work on going further. I’m really happy with these two performances and I feel great. So, I think there is more to come.”

Runner-up to Wilson in the final was Lauren Hoffman of Duke in 56.55 while Howard’s Jessica Wright place third in 57.36.

Wilson also improved the fastest time ever in the month of March by an American and collegian while registering her fifth UA school record this year.

Saturday’s action in the Texas Relays will likely involve Wilson running on the Razorback’s 4×400 relay.

In the Invitational 400m hurdles, Arkansas volunteer Shamier Little claimed the victory in 56.77 over a 57.93 by Robyn Brown of the Philippines.

In qualifying races held Friday, the Razorbacks advanced the 4×100 relay to the final along with Jada Baylark in the 100m as well as Jayla Hollis and Yoveinny Mota in the 100m hurdles.

Racing at 9:35 a.m., Arkansas finished second in its prelim heat with a time of 44.00 seconds with a line-up of Rosey Effiong, Baylark, Hollis, and Joanne Reid.

The Razorbacks posted the sixth fastest time among the nine schools advancing to the final on Saturday. Texas Tech won the heat with Arkansas in 43.62, which was second fastest overall behind a leading time of 42.42 by Texas in another heat.

Other schools in the 4×100 final include LSU (43.63), Texas A&M (43.88), USC (43.96), Florida (44.10), Baylor (44.51), and Oklahoma (44.74).

Hollis and Mota advanced to the finals of the 100m hurdles as they were runner-up in their respective prelim heats. Hollis ran 13.07 (1.3 wind) behind a 12.97 for Baylor’s Ackera Nugent while Mota posted a 1323 (1.1) behind a 12.98 for LSU’s Alia Armstrong. The overall leading time was 12.87 by Kayla Robinson of Texas A&M.

Running in the 100m prelims at 11:16 a.m., Baylark produced a time of 11.16 (1.2 wind) to claim her heat and post the second fastest time among the qualifier for the final. USC’s Celera Barnes led the field with an 11.07 (1.2).

Reid clocked 11.53 (1.2) to place fourth in her heat and 13^th overall, just missing the final time qualifier of 11.51 that was produced by three other sprinters.

While already seeded in the Invitational 4×400 relay on Saturday, Arkansas ran in the prelim section of the 4×400 on Friday and posted a leading time of 3:31.87 with a quartet of Ashanti Denton, Paris Peoples, Effiong, and Reid. Effiong supplied a 51.27 split on her leg.

The next best time was 3:32.60 by Texas, who won the following heat.

Texas Relays | Arkansas Schedule

Saturday | March 26