BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA, March 11-12 — Florida was all over the place at the NCAA Women’s Indoor Championships, not only winning the team trophy, but also producing a pair of Collegiate Record setters. Grace Stark equaled the 60H mark and Jasmine Moore, the only double event winner, raised the TJ mark. A third CR came from Julien Alfred of Texas in the 60 heats.
Shey Taiwo of Mississippi claimed the yearly world lead in the weight. Joining her as American and collegiate leaders were Stark and Moore. Also picking up collegiate leaders were the Arkansas DMR, Lamara Distin of Texas A&M in the HJ (a tie) and Virginia Tech’s Rachel Baxter in the vault.
Teams: Florida Lives Up To Its Favorite’s Role
Mike Holloway’s Florida Gators came to Birmingham as the strong team-title favorite according to the coaches poll, boasting 7 entrants ranked in the top 5 in their events, 3 of them national leaders.
Arkansas would need some lucky breaks to defend its title, even with the largest number of entries. Texas, with nearly as many entries coming in, also hoped to score big.
On Day 1, Anna Hall started the Gators off with a heptathlon win, then Jasmine Moore took the long jump. With 22 points Florida had a single-digit lead over Mississippi, with Arkansas at 18 and the Longhorns far back at 3.
On Saturday Moore led a 1-2 in the triple jump, Talitha Diggs took the 400 and Grace Stark scored 5 in the 60 and came back a half hour later to win the hurdles. That was enough, as Florida clinched its first crown in 30 years, before the 200 even started. It was only the second time in meet history that a team had won 5 events.
Said Diggs, “It is a blessing to have all our hard work come out at the best time. Our team made sacrifices and truly did it together. To be team champions is a display of our togetherness and love for each other.”
Despite not winning any events, Texas surged on Saturday to finish with 48, behind only the 68 of Florida. Kentucky (38) also got past Arkansas’s 30. /Roy Conrad/
SCORES
1. Florida 68;
2. Texas 56;
3. Kentucky 44;
4. Arkansas 40;
5. LSU 29½;
6. tie, Mississippi & Virginia Tech 29;
8. BYU 26.2;
9. NC State 25;
10. Texas A&M 24;
11. tie, Colorado, Oregon & Texas Tech 17;
14. Ohio State 14;
15. USC 13;
16. Tennessee 12;
17. Notre Dame 11;
18. tie, South Carolina, Stanford, Arizona State, Coastal Carolina, Duke & Oklahoma State 10;
24. tie, High Point & Oklahoma 8;
26. tie, Colorado State & Kansas State 7;
28. tie, UCF, Villanova, Alabama, Cal & Cincinnati 6;
33. tie, Arizona, Florida State & Oregon State 5;
36. tie, Illinois, Memphis & Sam Houston 4;
39. Western Kentucky 3½ ;
40. tie, Texas State, UCLA, Louisville, Michigan State, Middle Tennessee State & New Mexico 3;
46. Georgia 2.2;
47. tie, Virginia, Michigan, Missouri & Nebraska 2;
51. tie, Southern Illinois, West Virginia, Auburn, Iowa, Kennesaw State & North Carolina 1;
57. tie, Kansas, Montana State & Rice 0.2.
60 Meters: Melissa Jefferson (Coastal Carolina) 7.09
After Julien Alfred shocked with a Collegiate Record 7.04 in the heats, taking down the best of 7.05 that Oregon’s Kemba Nelson had won with last year, all eyes naturally watched the junior from St. Lucia at the start of the final. Missing from the race was Nelson, after running only 7.21 in the first round
Texas junior Alfred, in lane 4, was flanked on the left by Oregon frosh Jadyn Mays (who had cut her best from 7.15 to 7.09 in the heats). On the right was upstart Coastal Carolina soph Melissa Jefferson, just a 7.22 performer coming in, who had produced a PR 7.10 of her own.
At the crack of the gun, the fastest out were Mays and Florida hurdler Grace Stark. Midway through the race, Jefferson transitioned well and forged ahead of them, as Abby Steiner came on strong in the final strides. Alfred, though competitive, never found the rhythm that had put her into the record books.
At the line, Jefferson’s lean barely held off Steiner, 7.09-7.10, PRs for both, with Mays at 7.11 and Stark at 7.13. Alfred crossed 5th in 7.15.
It was a first NCAA Indoor for Jefferson, who moved to =No. 7 on the all-time collegiate list, and she seemed as shocked as anybody by her victory. “I remember watching this on TV last year,” she said. “And I told myself that next year I’d be here. I’m a goal-setter, and one of my goals was to walk away with a medal and get into the finals.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. **Melissa Jefferson (CCar) 7.09 PR (=7, =7 C; =4, =4 AmC);
2. *Abby Steiner (Ky) 7.10 PR (=12, =12 C; =9, =9 AmC);
3. ***Jadyn Mays (Or) 7.11;
4. **Grace Stark (Fl) 7.13;
5. *Julien Alfred’ (Tx-StL) 7.15;
6. **Semira Killebrew (Fl) 7.18 =PR;
7. **Favour Ofili’ (LSU-Ngr) 7.25;
8. ***Rhasidat Adeleke’ (Tx-Ire) 7.26.
HEATS
I–1. Alfred’ 7.04 CR (old CR 7.05 Kemba Nelson’ [Or] ’21);
2. Mays 7.09 PR (=7, =7 C; =4, =4 AmC); 3. Stark 7.10 PR (11, =11C; 8, =8 AmC);
4. Killebrew 7.18 PR; 5. **Rayniah Jones (UCF) 7.21; 6. **Rosemary Chukwuma’ (TxT-Ngr) 7.21; 7. **Joella Lloyd’ (Tn-Ant) 7.21; 8. Edidiong Odiong’ (FlSt-Ngr) 7.52.
II–1. Jefferson 7.10 PR (=11, =11 C; =8, =8 AmC);
2. Steiner 7.14; 3. Adeleke’ 7.17 PR; 4. Ofili’ 7.18; 5. **Alia Armstrong (LSU) 7.18; 6. Jada Baylark (Ar) 7.20; 7. Kemba Nelson’ (Or-Jam) 7.21; 8. Madison Meredith (MoSt) 7.31.
200 Meters: Abby Steiner (Kentucky) 22.16
It was almost a forgone conclusion. When Ohio State Olympian Anavia Battle won the first section in 22.63, a time that would have won 23 of 34 previous NCAA finals, everyone knew the biggest fireworks were yet to come. The furlong has no hotter sprinter right now than Kentucky’s Abby Steiner, who had twice earlier in the season broken the Collegiate Record, with the latter effort, 22.09, being the American Record and No. 2 in world history.
Defending champion Steiner, in lane 5, had LSU’s Favour Ofili to chase in 6. Arms and legs churning like a robot set to overdrive, she caught her before the midpoint on the last turn, leaving only the question of how fast she could go on a track that many felt is not as fast as some of the others on the circuit. It was plenty fast enough, as Steiner crossed in a meet record 22.16, Ofili acquitting herself well with a 22.50 runner-up performance. Battle’s time held up for 3rd, ahead of Rhasidat Adeleke of Texas, who ran her 22.88 in the first section as well.
“I was here freshman year and didn’t even make finals, so just seeing the growth at this place has been incredible,” said Steiner. She told ESPN, “It’s really nice having someone to chase. [Ofili] definitely pulled me along the backstretch. She gets out really well.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
(2-section time final)
1. *Abby Steiner (Ky);
2. **Favour Ofili’ (LSU-Ngr);
3. Anavia Battle (OhSt);
4. ***Rhasidat Adeleke’ (Tx-Ire);
5. *Kynnedy Flannel (Tx);
6. *Karimah Davis (Ky);
7. ***Laila Owens (TxAM);
8. *Julien Alfred’ (Tx-StL).
Sections: I–1. Battle 22.63; 2. Adeleke’ 22.88; 3. Owens 23.49; 4. Alfred’ 23.54.
II–1. Steiner (Ky) 22.16 (x, =5 W; x, 2 A, C) (in/out: x, =7 C) (MR);
2. Ofili’ 22.50; 3. Flannel 23.22; 4. Davis 23.23.
HEATS
I–1. Alfred’ 23.22; 2. Davis 23.23; 3. *Mariah Ayers (Bay) 23.35; 4. Symone Darius (NCAT) 23.57.
II–1. Ofili’ 22.66; 2. ***Kevona Davis’ (Tx-Jam) 23.39; 3. Iman Brown (Or) 23.51; 4. Jada Baylark (Ar) 23.64.
III–1. Steiner 22.45; 2. Adeleke’ 23.06; 3. ***Jayla Hollis (Ar) 23.33; 4. Anna Keefer (NC) 23.45.
IV–1. Battle 22.88; 2. Flannel 23.14; 3. Owens 23.32; 4. ***Joanne Reid’ (Ar-Jam) 23.48.
400 Meters: Talitha Diggs (Florida) 50.98
For only the fourth time in the last 15 years, the winner of the women’s 2-lapper came out of the first section. From lane 3, Kennedy Simon of Texas got out fastest and came to the cut-in with a clear edge over Talitha Diggs. She passed 200 in 24.07, with Diggs 24.36. On the backstretch the Florida yearling made her move past Simon, but ran out of straightaway and tried to finish the job on the turn.
Midway through she cut in on Simon, who had to push Diggs to avoid a crash. Unfazed, Diggs stormed to the finish in a PR 50.98. Simon, in 51.46, barely held off her pursuers, Jan’Taijah Ford of USC (51.51) and Britton Wilson of Arkansas (51.52).
In section 2, the yearly U.S. leader, Alexis Holmes (lane 4), got out best and made up the stagger on Texas A&M’s Charokee Young (5) and Texas’s Stacey Ann Williams (6) by the second turn.
The Kentucky junior passed 200 in 23.94 and held a comfortable lead on the second lap until Williams came after her on the final stretch. Sensing the pressure, Holmes executed an awkward dive but came up just short, Williams taking it 51.49–51.50, with Young (51.61) and Colorado State’s Lauren Gale (51.64) close behind.
“I didn’t run how I wanted to at SECs but I kept training hard and I came back here to win,” said Diggs, who had finished well behind Holmes and Wilson two weeks earlier in the Conference meet.
RESULTS
(2-section time final)
1. ***Talitha Diggs (Fl);
2. *Kennedy Simon (Tx);
3. *Stacey Ann Williams’ (Tx-Jam);
4. *Alexis Holmes (Ky);
5. **Jan’Taijah Ford (USC);
6. ***Britton Wilson (Ar);
7. **Charokee Young’ (TxAM-Jam);
8. *Lauren Gale’ (CoSt-Can).
Sections: I–1. Diggs 50.98 PR (24.36/26.62); 2. Simon 51.46 PR (24.07/26.39); 3. Ford 51.51 PR (24.92/26.59); 4. Wilson 51.52 (24.48/27.04).
II–1. Williams 51.49 PR (24.04/27.45); 2. Holmes 51.50 (23.94/27.56); 3. Young 51.61 (24.15/27.46); 4. Gale 51.64 (24.38/27.76).
HEATS
I–1. Wilson 51.92; 2. Ford 52.05; 3. Simon 52.27; 4. **Latasha Smith (UCF) 53.92.
II–1. Holmes 52.11; 2. **Amber Anning’ (LSU-GB) 52.48; 3. *Tierra Robinson-Jones (TxAM) 52.78;… dnc—Stephanie Davis (SC).
III–1. Young’ 51.70; 2. Gale’ 52.17; 3. Taiya Shelby (Vand) 52.64; 4. **Rosey Effiong (Ar) 52.94.
IV–1. Williams’ 51.89; 2. Diggs 52.14; 3. **Kimberly Harris (USC) 52.65; 4. Morgan Burks-Magee (Ar) 56.72.
800 Meters: Lindsey Butler (Virginia Tech) 2:01.37
The 800 final never opened more hot, thanks to Sarah Hendrick. A 2:01.47 performer outdoors, the Kennesaw State junior dared to try to fly away from her pursuers with a scorching 27.50/56.17 pace (the fastest first 400 in meet history), only to fall back to earth having rediscovered her mortality.
Arkansas’s Shafiqua Maloney was the only one to give half-hearted chase, and even staying 15m behind Hendrick, she still hit dangerous splits of 28.36 and 58.35. Leading the rest was Virginia Tech’s Lindsey Butler at 28.93/58.76. She caught Maloney before 500 and was 8m behind Hendrick at the bell (1:28.78 to 1:29.90).
Hendrick had reached the pain-and-suffering portion of her race plan and Butler caught her with 150 left, leading the rest past the rigged-up Owl. She finished in 2:01.37, ahead of BYU’s Claire Seymour (2:01.96) and fast-closing McKenna Keegan of Villanova (2:02.70).
Explained Hendrick, who crossed last in 2:06.61, “This was definitely not the race that I wanted but a race I needed in order to know my limits. I wanted to make the race fast but I got a little too excited and pushed it too hard.”
Butler, 4th last year, said, “I knew she was going out fast, she’s a very fast girl, but I knew I could hold it down with the mile strength that I have. I didn’t want to give up. We had a girl do that last year and she won [Baylor’s Aaliyah Miller off a 27.69/56.90], and I didn’t want that to happen again.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. *Lindsey Butler (VaT) 2:01.37 PR
(28.93, 29.83 [58.76], 31.14 [1:29.90], 31.47) (58.76/62.61);
2. *Claire Seymour (BYU) 2:01.96 PR
(29.17, 29.81 [58.98], 30.95 [1:29.93], 32.03) (58.98/62.98);
3. McKenna Keegan (Vill) 2:02.70 PR
(29.04, 30.42 [59.46], 31.71 [1:31.17], 31.53) (59.46/63.24);
4. *Valery Tobias (Tx) 2:03.39 PR
(29.03, 30.13 [59.16], 31.78 [1:30.94], 32.45) (59.16/64.23);
5. *Kassidy Johnson (KsSt) 2:03.93 PR
(29.46, 30.23 [59.69], 31.35 [1:31.04], 32.89) (59.69/64.24);
6. Shafiqua Maloney’ (Ar-StV) 2:05.09
(28.36, 29.99 [58.35], 32.47 [1:30.82], 34.27) (58.35/66.74);
7. Aurora Rynda’ (Mi-Can) 2:06.33
(29.11, 30.25 [59.36], 32.39 [1:31.75], 34.58) (59.36/66.97);
8. *Sarah Hendrick (KennSt) 2:06.61
(27.50, 28.67 [56.17], 32.61 [1:28.78], 37.83) (56.17/70.44).
HEATS
I–1. Seymour 2:03.48; 2. Johnson 2:03.95 PR; 3. Rynda’ 2:04.12; 4. Maloney’ 2:04.20; 5. *Imogen Barrett’ (Fl-Aus) 2:04.48; 6. Victoria Tachinski’ (PennSt-Can) 2:05.39; 7. **Brooke Jaworski (Tx) 2:05.42; 8. ***Allison Johnson (PennSt) 2:08.69.
II–1. Butler 2:03.63; 2. Tobias 2:03.68 PR; 3. Keegan 2:04.00; 4. Hendrick 2:04.15; 5. **Gabija Galvydytė’ (OkSt-Lit) 2:04.40 PR; 6. *Isabella Giesing (MaL) 2:05.50; 7. *Katy-Ann McDonald’ (LSU-GB) 2:09.12; 8. *Quinn Owen (Ar) 2:09.66.
Mile: Micaela DeGenero (Colorado) 4:33.92
Only one move mattered in the mile and it came from a most unexpected competitor in a race that went out slowly. Olivia Howell of Illinois and then Middle Tennessee’s Eusila Chepkemei took the pack through the quarter in 70.07.
At the half (2:21.60), Chepkemei ran ahead of Howell and Colorado’s Mady Boreman, side-by-side behind her in a tight pack. Nobody was watching Boreman teammate Micaela DeGenero, who had slipped into last. But with 450 left, DeGenero moved wide and then sprinted wildly, almost as if she had miscounted laps.
She burst into the lead at three-quarters (3:32.38), extending it as her competitors struggled with whether or not to chase her hard that early. With 300 left, she had nearly 10m on Mississippi’s Sintayehu Vissa. At the bell, Vissa had not dented that gap, and the others, led by Rachel McArthur of Colorado and Ellie Leather of Cincinnati, were another 6m back.
Had DeGenero gone too soon? Hardly. After that breakout 30.62 lap, she padded her lead on her final circuit (30.45) to cross the winner in a PR 4:33.92 — the only PR in the race. Vissa (4:35.40) held off Leather (4:35.62) and McArthur (4:35.66) for the second spot.
No one seemed more shocked than DeGenero, who had only been 14th on the qualifying list and had run in only two meets this year. The grad transfer from Michigan had placed 6th for the Buffs in the NCAA 1500 last season.
“I just tried to hold on for dear life and I guess no one came back,” she said. “I wasn’t expecting that.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. Micaela DeGenero (Co) 4:33.92 PR
(36.02, 36.70 [1:12.72], 35.43 [1:48.15], 35.48 [2:23.63], 35.08 [2:58.71], 34.16 [3:32.87], 30.61 [4:03.48], 30.44)
(30.44, 61.05, 2:10.29);
2. *Sintayehu Vissa’ (Ms-Ita) 4:35.40
(30.81, 62.28, 2:12.13);
3. Ellie Leather’ (Cinc-GB) 4:35.62
(30.22, 61.94, 2:12.09);
4. Rachel McArthur (Co) 4:35.66
(30.29, 62.18, 2:12.37);
5. **Olivia Howell (Il) 4:36.86
(30.56, 63.59, 2:13.89);
6. Eusila Chepkemei’ (MTn-Ken) 4:37.21
(31.26, 64.12, 2:14.39);
7. Julia Heymach (Stan) 4:37.28
(31.56, 63.67, 2:13.85);
8. *Madie Boreman (Co) 4:38.32
(32.70, 65.01, 2:15.35);
9. Katie Camarena (PortSt) 4:41.93
(35.21, 68.86, 2:18.81);
10. ***Mia Barnett (Va) 4:42.91
(35.64, 69.59, 2:19.71).
HEATS
I–1. Vissa’ 4:33.13; 2. Camarena 4:33.20; 3. Heymach 4:33.24; 4. McArthur 4:33.25 PR; 5. Barnett 4:33.54 PR (5, x AJ); 6. Degenero 4:34.19 PR; 7. ***Laura Pellicoro’ (Port-Ita) 4:35.45; 8. **Madison Heisterman’ (Wa-Can) 4:42.51.
II–1. Leather’ 4:36.15; 2. Boreman 4:36.23; 3. Howell 4:36.24; 4. Chepkemei’ 4:36.33; 5. Emily Mackay (Bing) 4:36.34; 6. *Anna Gibson (Wa) 4:37.70; 7. Aneta Konieczek’ (Or-Pol) 4:41.79; 8. *Bailey Hertenstein (In) 4:43.48.
3000 Meters: Taylor Roe (Oklahoma State) 8:58.95
The back of the pack can be a safe place at times, so that’s where Taylor Roe floated in the early laps. For Oklahoma State’s Big 12 mile champ, only No. 13 on the qualifying list, wait-and-see seemed like a solid plan.
Up front, Kentucky’s Tori Herman led for the first 3 laps. Then Georgia Tech’s Nicole Fegans took over (1K 3:03.33). Alabama’s Mercy Chelangat led for a few more before Herman took them through the 1600 in 4:56.37 and the 3K in 6:10.64. Throughout, no one looked more dangerous than BYU’s Courtney Wayment, the winner of Friday’s 5000. She hovered in 2nd and 3rd, poised to strike.
Roe moved up to 5th with a kilometer to go and with 700 left she struck. A 33.13 lap gave her a 2-stride lead over Arkansas’s Lauren Gregory, Wayment in 3rd. By the end of the next (32.91), Roe, who was the NCAA cross country runner-up a year ago and 5th in the overland nationals in November, led defending champion Wayment by 8m. Braided ponytail flying, the orange-clad Roe extended her lead even more on the penultimate lap (32.66). It was all she could do to hold on after the bell, hitting 32.24 to win in 8:58.95, having run a 2:10.94 final 800. No one in the race PRed but the winner came closest.
Behind her, NC State’s Katelyn Tuohy and Gregory chased hard but fell short, finishing in 8:59.20 and 8:59.50 as Wayment faded to 5th (9:01.77).
Said the 21-year-old Roe, who had been tracking her pursuers on the video screen, “I could see them coming and that was terrifying.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. **Taylor Roe (OkSt) 8:58.95 (35.92, 37.74 [1:13.66], 38.08 [1:51.74], 37.08 [2:28.82], 35.69 [3:04.51], 36.70 [3:41.21], 38.73 [4:19.94], 37.44 [4:57.38], 36.48 [5:33.86], 37.04 [6:10.90], 37.14 [6:48.04], 33.13 [7:21.17], 32.90 [7:54.07], 32.65 [8:26.72], 32.23)
(32.23, 64.88, 2:10.91);
2. ***Katelyn Tuohy (NCSt) 8:59.20
(31.18, 63.54, 2:11.01);
3. *Lauren Gregory (Ar) 8:59.50
(31.34, 64.12, 2:11.27);
4. *Lauren Ryan’ (FlSt-Aus) 9:01.37
(32.41, 65.85, 2:13.35);
5. Courtney Wayment (BYU) 9:01.77
(33.22, 66.59, 2:13.92);
6. **Samantha Bush (NCSt) 9:02.26
(32.27, 65.96, 2:14.01);
7. *Kelsey Chmiel (NCSt) 9:04.77;
8. ***Ceili McCabe’ (WV-Can) 9:05.09;
9. **Grace Fetherstonhaugh’ (OrSt-Can) 9:05.13;
10. *Mercy Chelangat’ (Al-Ken) 9:08.13;
11. Nicole Fegans (GaT) 9:08.41;
12. **Kaylee Mitchell (OrSt) 9:08.58;
13. Katie Camarena (PortSt) 9:09.43;
14. *Alexandra Hays (NCSt) 9:09.82;
15. Emily Mackay (Bing) 9:11.29;
16. ***Tori Herman (Ky) 9:13.70.
5000 Meters: Courtney Wayment (BYU) 15:30.17
Mercy Chelangat ran the front end of the 5000 like a commanding favorite, keeping the pace slow and toying with the field. Yet while the Alabama junior played cat-and-mouse, BYU’s Courtney Wayment, who had won the 3000 last year, proved to be the most dangerous of predators.
From the start Chelangat controlled the pace, with no one challenging even as she dropped in a 40.07 lap to pass 1K in 3:10.67. Finally, Washington’s Haley Herberg went by but the pace stayed slow. She hit 2K in 6:21.32 before Chelangat went back to the front, exchanging the lead with NC State’s Alexandra Hays after 3K (9:31.95).
The fourth kilometer was the fastest yet, a 3:04.01. All the while, Wayment stayed close and patient. Finally, with 500 left, she struck, Arkansas’s Lauren Gregory in tow. Passing Chelangat into 3rd was the resurgent Katelyn Tuohy of NC State.
When the sprinting started in earnest on the final go-round, Gregory fell off as Tuohy and Chelangat zipped past. It was clear no one could catch Wayment, whose last lap took 32.31 (last 400 in 66.36). Finishing nearly as fast was Tuohy, whose 32.48/66.39 held off the late attack of Chelangat.
Wayment’s final kilo took 2:53.97, a nice closer to a 15:30.17. Behind her, the next three scored PRs: Tuohy (15:30.63), Chelangat (15:31.06) and Gregory (15:32.95). /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. Courtney Wayment (BYU) 15:30.17
(35.30, 37.52 [1:12.82], 38.87 [1:51.69], 39.19 [2:30.88], 40.09 [3:10.97], 38.77 [3:49.74], 38.03 [4:27.77], 38.12 [5:05.89], 37.87 [5:43.76], 37.99 [6:21.75], 35.77 [6:57.52], 36.25 [7:33.77], 37.21 [8:10.98], 42.54 [8:53.52], 38.68 [9:32.20], 38.57 [10:10.77], 37.31 [10:48.08], 36.90 [11:24.98], 36.59 [12:01.57], 34.63 [12:36.20], 36.01 [13:12.21], 36.54 [13:48.75], 35.06 [14:23.81], 34.05 [14:57.86], 32.31)
(32.31, 66.36, 2:17.96);
2. ***Katelyn Tuohy (NCSt) 15:30.63 PR
(32.47, 66.38, 2:18.14);
3. *Mercy Chelangat’ (Al-Ken) 15:31.06 PR
(32.62, 66.57, 2:19.08);
4. *Lauren Gregory (Ar) 15:32.95
(34.80, 68.91, 2:20.70);
5. *Kelsey Chmiel (NCSt) 15:36.98 PR
(35.29, 70.38, 2:22.22);
6. *Jenna Magness (MiSt) 15:37.43
(35.91, 71.78, 2:24.49);
7. **Amelia Mazza-Downie’ (NM-Aus) 15:37.87 PR
(33.68, 69.32, 2:24.38);
8. **Gracelyn Larkin’ (NM-Can) 15:44.31; 9. *Alexandra Hays (NCSt) 15:46.25; 10. ***Emily Covert (Co) 15:56.66; 11. *Haley Herberg (Wa) 15:58.80; 12. ***Ruby Smee’ (USF-Aus) 16:02.77; 13. Adva Cohen’ (NM-Isr) 16:08.97; 14. ***Emma Heckel’ (NM-Ger) 16:09.63; 15. Kayley Delay (Yale) 16:19.14; 16. *Maddy Denner (NDm) 16:47.28.
60 Hurdles: Grace Stark (Florida) 7.78 =CR
After LSU’s list leader Alia Armstrong won her heat in 7.86 and SEC rival Grace Stark took the next in a PR 7.83 all the talk was on what was shaping to be one of best collegiate hurdle races ever. Then the Bayou Bengal star let nerves get to her and false-started in the final. For some, that took the edge off the excitement.
Stark didn’t pick up on that vibe. The Gator soph — who had just finished 4th in the 60 a half-hour earlier — stayed focused only on her lane. With tunnel-vision intensity, she rocketed out at the start and made it to hurdle 1 first. And just kept going.
When USC’s Jasmine Jones, a lane to her left, crashed at hurdle 4, Stark didn’t flinch; she was already gone. Hurdling cleanly, she had a dominating lead at the last barrier and dipped at the finish in 7.78, tying the Collegiate Record set in ’13 by Clemson’s Brianna McNeal (then Rollins).
Behind her, Kentucky’s Masai Russell nipped Central Florida’s Rayniah Jones by just 0.004, both clocking 7.95. No one else broke 8.00, even though all 8 starters had seasonal bests at 7.98 or faster.
Of her victory — with the biggest margin in 26 years — Stark said, “One thing that we focused on is my start and I like doing the 60 before, just to get a start out of the way.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
1. **Grace Stark (Fl) 7.78 =CR (=CR Brianna McNeal [Clem] ’13) (AL) (7, x A)
2. *Masai Russell (Ky) 7.95 (7.943);
3. **Rayniah Jones (UCF) 7.95 (7.947);
4. ***Leah Phillips (LSU) 8.01;
5. Mecca McGlaston (USC) 8.03;
… dnf—**Jasmine Jones (USC), Paula Salmon (NCAT);
… fs—**Alia Armstrong (LSU).
HEATS
I–1. Armstrong 7.86 (x, =7 C);
2. Jones 7.93; 3. Jones 7.96 PR; 4. Phillips 8.00; 5. Kaylah Robinson (TxAM) 8.02 PR; 6. **Ackera Nugent’ (Bay-Jam) 8.05; 7. ***Jayla Hollis (Ar) 8.16;… dnf—**Daszay Freeman (Ar).
II–1. Stark 7.83 PR (=3, =5 C);
2. Salmon 7.94; 3. Russell 7.95; 4. McGlaston 7.98 PR; 5. ***Rosealee Cooper’ (MsSt-Jam) 8.06 PR; 6. *Charisma Taylor’ (Tn-Bah) 8.07; 7. Destinee Rocker (SC) 8.10;… dnf—*Demisha Roswell (TxT).
4 x 400: Arkansas 3:27.23
Anyone hoping that the women’s 4×4 might be a replay of the SEC speedfest — where three teams, led by Arkansas, demolished the Collegiate Record — probably had their hopes dashed when Florida wrapped up the team title early and deprived the relay of the team trophy carrot.
Still, plenty of quality lined up for the three sections. In the first, UCLA led after the first exchange and held off LSU on the final leg (3:33.32–3:33.81), with Tiger anchor Favour Ofili running the fastest split at 52.31. In the second, with Florida scratching, USC and South Carolina went to the line, the Trojans winning 3:33.03 to–3:33.08.
In the final section, Arkansas’s Rosey Effiong got out fast and led most of the way before Laila Owens of Texas A&M ran her down, 52.17–52.45.
A 51.69 from Tierra Robinson-Jones kept A&M in front on the second leg, handing off 0.28 ahead of Kentucky (Abby Steiner 51.47). Texas, with Rhasidat Adeleke the fastest leg at 51.27, relegated the Razorbacks to 4th (Jayla Hollis 52.71).
The tide shifted on leg 3. Leader Kennedy Wade of A&M fell coming off the final turn, taking them out of the running. Kentucky moved to the lead with a 51.90 from Karimah Davis, as Arkansas got back into 2nd with Shafiqua Maloney’s 51.47.
On the final leg, Britton Wilson produced a 50.61 to bring the win to Arkansas in 3:27.23, with Texas’s Kennedy Simon coming from far back in 50.78 to edge ahead of Kentucky, 3:28.60–3:28.77. /Jeff Hollobaugh/
RESULTS
(3-section time final)
1. Arkansas;
2. Texas;
3. Kentucky;
4. USC;
5. South Carolina;
6. UCLA;
7. LSU;
8. Iowa;
9. Baylor;
10. Texas A&M;
11. Oregon;
… dnc—Florida.
Sections: I–1. UCLA 3:33.32
(Leger 53.37, Jendrezak 53.52, Doane 53.73, Pierre-Webster 52.70);
2. LSU 3:33.81
(Anning’ 53.25, Rose 54.40, White 53.86, Ofili’ 52.30);
3. Baylor 3:35.79
(Francis’ 54.50, Nse Uko’ 52.71, Morake’ 55.24, Ayers 53.34);
4. Oregon 3:37.71
(Clayton 53.84, Hall 53.10, Wright 58.17 [fell], Grebo 52.60).
II–1. USC 3:33.03
(Lear 53.51, Harris 52.87, Jones 54.16, Ford 52.49);
2. South Carolina 3:33.08
(Dunmore 52.85, Glenn 53.69, Johnson 53.15, Pyatt 53.39);
3. Iowa 3:35.03
(Bruxvoort’ 54.85, Roberts 53.79, Wensel 52.64, King 53.75);
… dnc—Florida.
III–1. Arkansas 3:27.23 (8 C)
(Effiong 52.45, Hollis 52.71, Maloney’ 51.47, Wilson 50.60);
2. Texas 3:28.60
(Williams’ 53.39, Adeleke’ 51.27, Patterson’ 53.16, Simon 50.78);
3. Kentucky 3:28.77
(Holmes 52.67, Steiner 51.46, Davis 51.89, Miles 52.75);
4. Texas A&M 3:36.92
(Owens 52.17, Robinson-Jones 51.68, Wade 58.12 [fell]), Richardson 54.95).
Distance Medley: Arkansas 10:51.37
Coming in with the No. 3 collegiate time ever at 10:51.63, it was no surprise that Arkansas ran off with its third DMR crown and a welcome boost to 3rd in the team race on Day 1.
On the first leg, though, it was Oregon State’s Kaylee Mitchell who led at 3:20.46, just ahead of Izzy Thornton-Bott of Oregon (3:20.67), with Arkansas’s Isabel Van Camp back in 7th (3:22.76). Washington and Ole Miss took tumbles which ended their chances.
Oregon took over on the 400 (Katriina Wright 53.82), though Kentucky’s Megan Moss ran the fastest leg, a 52.64, to bring the Wildcats to 2nd just 0.03 back. Paris Peoples burned a 52.65 to move the Razorbacks into 3rd only 0.72 behind the leader. Kentucky, though, soon passed the Ducks for the lead.
Arkansas finally got a taste of the lead on the 800 leg. After two laps, Krissy Gear (2:03.76) moved past Kentucky, but Jenna Schwinghamer (2:03.86) fought back and handed off ahead by a stride. Oregon held 3rd and Stanford had moved into 4th for the final exchange.
On the anchor the Razorbacks’ Logan Jolly waited until the final 500 before shooting into the lead. By the bell, she had built a safe — and growing — lead. Her 4:32.21 finished off a winning 10:51.37, the No. 3 college time ever. “I had a few in front of me, but I was able to catch up,” she analyzed. “I just kept telling myself to focus and not give up the lead.”
Stanford’s Julia Heymach (4:33.07) finished fast to give the Cardinal the runner-up spot in 10:53.37, as Oregon (10:55.32) and Oregon State (10:58.76) also got past Kentucky (11:02.41).
RESULTS
1. Arkansas 10:51.37 (CL) (8 W; 6 A; 3 C; #3 school) (in/out: 9 A; 7 C; #5 schoo)
(Van Camp 3:22.76, Peoples 52.65, Gear 2:03.75, Jolly 4:32.21);
2. Stanford 10:53.37 (11 C)
(Aragon 3:20.67, Thomas 55.87, Deligianni’ 2:03.76, Heymach 4:33.07);
3. Oregon 10:55.52
(Thornton-Bott’ 3:20.88, Wright 53.81, Moerck 2:04.73, Konieczek’ 4:36.10);
4. Oregon State 10:58.76
(Mitchell 3:20.46, Scatena 55.31, Friedman 2:05.96, Fetherstonhaugh’ 4:37.03);
5. Kentucky 11:02.41
(Hearing 3:22.08, Moss 52.64, Schwinghamer 2:03.86, Herman 4:43.83);
6. Mississippi 11:04.86
(Elkin 3:30.11, Eckford 56.29, Winn 2:05.57, Vissa’ 4:32.89);
7. Virginia 11:04.88
(Barnett 3:22.52, Seaman 54.97, Sabbakhan 2:07.25, Appleton 4:40.14);
8. Notre Dame 11:05.60
(Sullivan 3:25.57, O’Brien 56.66, Ryan 2:07.88, Markezich 4:35.49);
9. BYU 11:06.64
(Alder 3:27.83, Hunter 54.21, Ellsworth 2:06.49, Hunter 4:38.11);
10. Virginia Tech 11:08.43
(Ballowe 3:24.42, Price 59.00, Boone 2:08.11, Torino 4:36.90);
11. Washington 11:11.58
(Chiotti 3:35.51, Gersch 53.87, Thomas’ 2:03.06, Schadler 4:39.14);
… dq—[6]NC State [11:04.43]
(Bush 3:22.38, Griffin 54.24, Vess 2:10.96, Shaw 4:36.85).