World-leading victories highlight for Arkansas indoor track athletes

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — A pair of Razorback newcomers established world-leading times with a pair of victories Friday during the Arkansas Invitational.

Sophomore transfer Sanu Jallow became the third fastest collegian ever in the 600-meter run while freshman newcomer Shawnti Jackson moved to No. 10 on the world U20 400-meter dash list.

Jallow, who transferred from Texas A&M, bettered her previous best of 1:30.32 with a scintillating 1:26.52 to defeat the field by nearly two full seconds with Oklahoma State’s Gabija Galvydyte runner-up in 1:28.48.

In moving to No. 3 on the alltime collegiate list, Jallow only trails Britton Wilson’s collegiate record of 1:25.16 from a year ago, as well as the Aggie school record holder Athing Mu’s 1:25.8 from 2021. Jallow edged ahead of a 1981 time of 1:26.56 set by Tennessee’s Delisa Floyd on the all-time collegiate list.

The previous world-leading mark for 2024 was 1:27.77 by Jamaica’s Leah Anderson. Splits for Jallow included 26.98, 29.72 [56.70], 29.82 [1:26.52].

Jackson’s debut produced a winning time of 52.1 seconds, bettering the current worldleading 400m time of 53.18 by Ireland’s Phil Healy. In addition to her position on the world U20 all-time list, Jackson moves to No. 9 on the U.S. U20 all-time list.

In bettering her outdoor best of 52.92 seconds, Jackson improved her previous indoor best of 54.94 seconds. She is No. 11 on the Arkansas alltime list, just missing the No. 10 position of 52.06 seconds held by the tandem of Morgan Burks-Magee and Paris Peoples.

Peoples clocked 53.14 seconds as runner-up to Jackson in the fifth section of the 400-meter dash and placed third overall. Another Razorback freshman, Kaylyn Brown, won the fourth section in a career best of 53.04 seconds to place second overall.

Brown and Jackson both attended high school at separate programs in North Carolina. Brown also broke her outdoor best of 53.1 seconds, and improved her indoor best from a 57.62 seconds.

The meet ended with Jackson and Jallow racing on the anchor leg of separate 1,600-meter relay. Jackson supplied a split of 51.71 seconds as the Razorback A squad won in a meet record of 3:28.79. Jallow split 51.91 seconds as the Arkansas B crew posted a runner-up time of 3:30.48.

The A crew, which bettered the meet record of 3:30.38 set by Arkansas last year, included Rosey Effiong (52.54 seconds), Rachel Glenn (53.00), and Nickisha Pryce (51.71). The B squad included Amber Anning (52.36 seconds), Joanne Reid (53.29), and Brown (52.92).

Arkansas produced the top two fastest times in the world for 2024, topping the previous best of 3:36.46 by South Carolina.

Finishing third in the relay in 3:32.07 was Hurdle Mechanic/Captain Athletics, a combination of professional athletes from coach Boogie Johnson and Chris Johnson training groups. The foursome included Andrette Knight (53.24 seconds), Anna Cockrell (53.17), Gianna Woodruff (53.48) and Michelle Atherley (52.18).

Freshman Hannah Estes produced a victory in her pole vault collegiate debut, clearing a height of 13-7 as she improved her previous career best of 12-6 indoors and 12-10 outdoors. In the process of winning the competition, Estes set a total of three indoor PRs before missing three attempts at 13-11.

Arkansas claimed the top four places in the competition with Marin Chamberlin runnerup and Amanda Fassold third as both cleared 13-3. Another freshman vaulter, Rachel Homoly cleared 12-11 in placing fourth.

Alum Shafiqua Maloney produced a pair of victories at 800-meter and 1,000-meter runs. She set a St. Vincent and the Grenadines national record of 2:41.22 in defeating Arkansas alum Stephanie Brown (2:43.47). Maloney’s previous best was 2:46.8.

Razorback sophomore Ainsley Erzen produced a time of 2:43.68 in her debut in the event while transfer Tiana LoStracco won another section in 2:46.72.

In the 800-meter run, Maloney charged from behind to close ground on Raevyn Rogers and claim the victory in 2:02.7 while Rogers finished in 2:03.23. The world leading time by Maloney bettered the meet record of 2:04.82 she set in 2022.

Amber Anning’s debut at 800-meter run placed her third as the top collegian with a time of 2:05.05, which is No. 8 on the UA all-time list. Stephanie Brown finished fourth in 2:06.94 while Razorback Chachi Gonzales set a career best of 2:07.32 in placing fifth.

The day started with the mile as four Razorbacks set career best times. Alum Logan Jolly won in 4:35.73 while Mary Ellen Eudaly was the top collegian with a 4:36.36 PR. Sydney Thorvaldson (4:41.42) finished fourth, Laura Taborda (4:41.69) fifth, and Mia Cochran (4:42.03) sixth as each set PRs.

Alum Claire McCune (4:44.52) added a career best in seventh place while LoStracco (4:48.70) finished eighth.

A slew of career best times were generated by Razorback sprinters in the 60-meter dash, 200-meter dash and 60-meter hurdles.

Destiny Huven, a transfer from Wisconsin, moved to No. 11 on the UA all-time list in 60-meter hurdles with an 8.18 seconds in the prelims. Huven, who sports a career best of 8.05, finished third in the final with an 8.22.

Cindy Sember of Great Britain claimed the hurdle final in 8.06 seconds while Atherley clocked 8.15 as runner-up.

Arkansas alums went 1-2 in the 60-meter dash final as Ackera Nugent, a double NCAA hurdle champion in 2023, produced a 7.35 seconds for the victory over a 7.36 by Jada Baylark. Effiong was the top 60-meter dash collegian with a 7.45 career best for third place while a PR of 7.45 placed Joanne Reid fourth.

Effiong also had a career best of 23.17 seconds to win the 200-meter dash, moving to No. 10 on the UA all-time list with Reid runner-up in 23.44. Glenn finished third with a 23.52 in her debut at the event.

The Arkansas indoor track teams will return to action in the Razorback Invitational, which will take place Jan. 26-27 in Fayetteville.