World relay gold for Bailey, long jump silver for Pinnock

NANJING, China – Arkansas alum Chris Bailey earned another gold medal on the final day of the World Indoor Championships as he anchored the United States to victory in the 4 x 400m relay while Wayne Pinnock collected another long jump silver medal.

In a very close long jump final, Jamaica’s Pinnock claimed the silver medal with a 27-2.5 (8.29) performance. It’s the third consecutive silver for Pinnock in major championships, having finished runner-up at the 2023 World Outdoor Championships in Budapest, Hungary, as well as the silver medalist in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Overall, Arkansas alums totaled eight medals at the World Indoor Championships with four golds, two silver, and two bronze medals.

The United States led with 16 total medals (six gold, four silver, six bronze) while Norway had the second most gold medals at three and Australia had the second best overall total of medals at seven.

Razorback 2025 World Indoor Medalists

Bailey becomes just the second person to win the World Indoor 400m title and be a member of the winning 4 x 400m relay. It was first accomplished in 2024 by Alexander Doom of the Netherlands.

This marks the 11th victory for the United States in the World Indoor 4 x 400m relay, with the last USA victory occurring in 2016. Bailey anchored the 2025 gold medal quartet in 44.84 seconds. The American squad included Elija Godwin (46.84), Brian Faust (45.94), and Jacory Patterson (45.51).

Leading the field at each exchange, the United States won the race in 3:03.13 ahead of Jamaica (3:05.05), Hungary (3:06.03), China (3:06.90), and Sri Lanka (3:10.58).

The time by the Americans is 12th fastest performance in World Indoor history, and the sixth best performance by a USA team.

Only three-quarters of an inch (2 cm) separated the three medalists in the long jump. Italy’s Mattia Fulani won the event with a leap of 27-2.75 (8.30) while Liam Adcock of Australia collected bronze with a 27-2 (8.28) effort. Two-time defending champion Miltiadis Tentoglou of Greece finished fifth with a mark of 26-8.5 (8.14).

The series for Pinnock included marks of 26-11 (8.20), 27-2 (8.28), foul, 27-2.5 (8.29), foul, and 26-11 (8.20).

“I’m standing here with the silver medal, but I cannot say I am super happy about it,” noted Pinnock. “It’s another silver, maybe it was not my time today. After all these competitions, all the events, I was really fighting for gold and I got very close.

“The level of the competition was high. The difference between us was very small and all of us were jumping well. But this is a great kick for me for the outdoor season. I am going to work hard and you are going to see me up on the podium in the summer.”

Pinnock joins James Beckford as a Jamaican silver medalist in the World Indoors from 2004.

Razorbacks who have previously competed in the World Indoor long jump include a trio of bronze medalists in Carey McLeod (2024), Erick Walder (1995, 1999), and Mike Conley (1989). In addition, Walder finished fourth in 1997 while Jarrion Lawson placed fourth in 2018 and 2022.