4 x 400 relay records cap the stellar day of ascension in Arkansas

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas turned the final day of NCAA West prelims into their own NCAA selection celebration as the Razorbacks added 10 entries to their list of athletes traveling to Eugene for the NCAA championships.

In front of 1,420 spectators at John McDonnell Field on Saturday, nine Arkansas athletes were seen advancing in eight more events, with five qualifying in two events.

The total number of Razorbacks going to the NCAA Championships at Hayward Field includes 12 athletes in 10 events for 14 entries.

“We’re very excited about what we can potentially accomplish in Eugene,” said Lance Harter, Arkansas women’s head coach. “It was a great weekend for us and we have a lot of chances to score.

“This is a meeting that’s always scary for any coaching staff because every time the gun goes off there’s a chance different things could happen. We basically came through this meeting unscathed.”

NCAA Championships | Arkansas Qualification | 12 athletes | 10 Events | 14 entries

Prior to racing in the 4 x 400 relay, all four Razorbacks have already qualified for the NCAA Championships in individual events. Jada Baylark improved in the 100m (11.04w), while Rosey Effiong (51.73) and Morgan Burks-Magee (52.06) qualified in the 400m and Britton Wilson (54.87) led the field in the 400m hurdle dominated.

Together, the Arkansas crew won the first leg of the 4 x 400 relay in 3:25.16, breaking the facility record of 3:27.07 set by Kentucky in 2018 and defeating runner-up USC in 3:30.03. Texas (3:25.93) and Texas A&M (3:26.49) won the other two legs.

The Razorbacks’ time is also the fastest ever recorded in prelim history — in both the East and West Regions.

Burks-Magee started in blocks, shared 52.40 and had a lead over USC on the first exchange. Effiong then fired a 50.50 second leg to give Arkansas a second and a half lead over the Trojans. Baylark completed the third leg in 52.50 as the lead increased to almost a full two seconds.

Wilson rocked the anchor leg in 49.72 seconds, three full seconds off USC’s anchor to confidently win the segment.

“Morgan is really starting to show her maturity and balance as a racer,” Harter said. “She comes out of the hole and takes us to the front. After that we walked alone. Rosey and Jada did an amazing job. When Britton is that far ahead, what are you going to do for an encore, just run as solid as you can.

The day began with Krissy Gear finishing second in the opening 1500m in 4:18.97, behind a 4:18.93 of Colorado’s Micaela Degenero. Then Yoveinny Mota raced to a career best 12.87 (1.8 wind) second in her run to move up to No. 4 on the UA all-time list and improve on her Venezuelan national record.

“A highlight was Yoveinny having a great hurdle race with a legal touch, that was exceptional,” noted Harter. “Krissy Gear has shown that she can handle anyone in the 1500m and that was a great way to start the day.”

Logan Jolly posted a 9:47.43 second in the third leg of the 3,000m steeplechase and it was the second fastest overall time behind BYU’s Courtney Wayment, who won the third leg in 9:42.32.

Lauren Gregory added the 5,000m to her 10,000m qualification from Thursday. She will be one of four promoted from the NCAA West in both distance races. Gregory was joined by Colorado’s Emily Covert and New Mexico’s Amelia Mazza-Downie and Emma Heckel.

Isabel Van Camp rode with Gregory in the first leg of the 5,000m and finished second in 16:02.66 while Gregory was third in 16:03.71. A third Razorback, Sydney Thorvaldson, finished 10th^th in the second leg at 16:26.15 in 17th place^th total.

Other Razorbacks who competed in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Championships were Kennedy Thomson (2:06.52) and Quinn Owen (2:06.93) in the 800 m when they placed 19th^th and 20^th total. Joanne Reid posted times of W11.27 and W22.91 to finish 20th^th and 14^th at 100m and 200m.