BRIGHTON, MASSACHUSETTS, March 07-09 — Our coverage of the NCAA Indoor is divided into 4 parts: men’s track & field and women’s track & field.
| Jump To Event Report: | ||||||||||
| 60 | 200 | 400 | 800 | Mile | 3000 | 5000 | 60H | 4×4 | DisMed | |
Teams — Razorbacks Repeat
Last year it came down to the 4×4 when retiring Arkansas coach Lance Harter brought home his fourth indoor title. This time Chris Johnson, now the Razorback head, didn’t need the relay points. His baton squad finished first but lost the 10 points to a lane DQ.
No matter, as Arkansas had scored 55, sufficient to exceed the 50 by Mouse Holloway’s Gator team which had not qualified a 4×4 squad to the meet.
Florida had controlled the first day, leading with 24 points — off a Parker Valby CR 5000 win, Claire Bryant long jump 2nd and a DMR 3rd without Valby’s help. Notre Dame had 18 — from pentathlon winner Jadin O’Brien and a DMR 2nd. BYU at 14 points (DMR win, 5th in the 5000) and Oklahoma State with 13 (11 big points in the 5000 and 2 from the DMR) preceded Arkansas (10) in the overnight standings.
But Johnson’s team started day 2 with a bang as junior Rachel Glenn stunned with a high jump CR to take Arkansas up to 2nd. Alida van Daalen fired back in the shot, 4 points for Florida, which got 1 more in the mile plus 3 in the 60.
Next event the 400, Arkansas’s fortress, 24 points off a 1-2-3 sweep. Then 5 more points for a hurdles 4th. As Gator Grace Stark had placed 2nd over the sticks, the tally at the top was now Arkansas 49–Florida 40.
When Arkansas gained 6 more in the next event, the 200, it had topped out — despite expected 4×4 points that never came. Looking indomitable at this level, Valby added a 3K win. Florida had Flomena Asekol in the 3000 too, but she wasn’t projected to score and did not.
Georgia and Oregon — 6th & 7th in the 4×4 —placed 3rd & 4th in the team scoring with Ole Miss and LSU close behind.
“It’s special,” said winning coach Johnson after retaining the title. “First year, first one. The SECs, now the NCAAs. I’m scared of what’s gonna happen next.” /Sieg Lindstrom/
TEAM SCORES
1. Arkansas 55;
2. Florida 50;
3. Georgia 33;
4. Oregon 31;
5. Mississippi 30;
6. LSU 29; 7. BYU 28; 8. tie, Oklahoma State & USC 27; 10. Notre Dame 26; 11. Alabama 21; 12. South Carolina 20; 13. Texas 18; 14. Texas A&M 16½; 15. tie, Stanford & Texas Tech 16; 17. tie, Tennessee & Washington 13; 19. Illinois 12½; 20. tie, Colorado State, Harvard & Iowa State 10; 23. tie, Georgetown & Providence 9; 25. Nebraska 8½; 26. tie, Ball State, Charlotte, Minnesota, San José State & Virginia Tech 8; 31. tie, Houston, Oklahoma & Penn State 6; 34. tie, High Point & Rutgers 5½; 36. tie, Michigan & VCU 5; 38. tie, Baylor, Clemson, Florida State, Rice & Virginia 4; 43. tie, Louisville, UTSA, Vanderbilt, West Virginia & Wichita State 3; 48. Villanova 2½; 49. tie, Indiana & Wisconsin 2; 51. tie, Colorado, Mississippi State, NC State & Northern Arizona 1.
60: Brianna Lyston (LSU) 7.03 CL
LSU soph Brianna Lyston, the SEC champ, came into the final tied for the fastest time this season but faced a gauntlet of returners: Georgia’s Kaila Jackson was 2nd last year, Tennessee’s Jacious Sears was 3rd, and Oregon’s Jadyn Mays was 5th.
Lyston, a first-time competitor at Indoor Nationals, blew by the veterans from the start, winning in a personal-best time of 7.03. Jackson (2nd), Mays (3rd) and Sears (4th) followed.
“All the pieces just came together,” Lyston said. “I’m grateful that all my hard work and practice is starting to pay off.”
Lyston came into the final after a subpar-for-her race in the prelims, set off by a poor start. There was no such trouble in the final. Her 7.03 time was the No. 2 all-time collegiate mark. Only ’23 titlist Julien Alfred, now a pro, is above Lyston on the ATL. She seems poised to make her mark in the storied sprint ranks of LSU and her native Jamaica.
“My teammates back home, they push me, and my teammates right now, they push me,” she said. “They motivate me every day, and you need that.”
But the teammates weren’t the biggest motivator. That role belonged to her mother, who traveled to Boston to see her daughter compete in college for the first time.
“I didn’t want her to come this far for her not to have something to smile about,” Lyston said. /Dan Simmons/
FINAL (March 09)
1. **Brianna Lyston’ (LSU-Jam) 7.03 PR (2, =6 C);
2. **Kaila Jackson (Ga) 7.08;
3. *Jadyn Mays (Or) 7.12;
4. Jacious Sears (Tn) 7.13;
5. **Shenese Walker’ (FlSt-Jam) 7.19 PR;
6. Grace Stark (Fl) 7.20;
7. *Semira Killebrew (TxAM) 7.20;
8. *Alyssa Colbert (TxT) 7.22.
HEATS (March 08)
I–1. Jackson 7.07 =PR; 2. Lyston’ 7.07 =PR; 3. Stark 7.18; 4. **Dajaz Defrand (FlSt) 7.24; 5. Dennisha Page (Tn) 7.25; 6. Rosemary Chukwuma’ (TxT-Ngr) 7.27; 7. *Alicia Burnett (Mo) 7.30; 8. *Leah Bertrand’ (OhSt-Tri) 7.37.
II–1. Sears 7.07; 2. Mays 7.12; 3. Killebrew 7.16 PR; 4. Colbert 7.21; 5. Walker’ 7.23; 6. *Kiley Robbins (Wi) 7.31; 7. *Success Umukoro’ (TxT-Ngr) 7.32; 8. ***Shawnti Jackson (Ar) 7.39.
200: JaMeesia Ford (South Carolina) 22.34 WJR
Perhaps more than any indoor event, the lane assignments for the 200 are crucial to a podium finish. Especially when, as has happened countless times, winning your section could mean zilch, so making the most of your starting position is key. In simpleton terms, lanes 5 and 6, good — 3 and 4, not so much.
Hoping to capture valuable team points, the Razorback trio of Amber Anning, Rosey Effiong (section 1) and Nickisha Pryce (section 2) would have their work cut out for them after coming off the 400 final a half hour earlier.
Section 1 lined up with Anning in 3, Longhorn Jacious Sears 4, Effiong 5 and Georgia’s Kaila Jackson 6.
Predictably, the Hogs were fatigued from their 400 sweep and Sears took advantage by going out at warp speed. She made up the stagger on Effiong after 80 meters before edging past Jackson. But Jackson reacted and found another gear to take the race in 22.63, 0.06 ahead of Sears.
Section 2 would find Pryce occupying 3, Mississippi’s McKenzie Long 4, South Carolina frosh JaMeesia Ford, the NCAA leader and top qualifier, in 5 and Oregon’s Jaydn Mays 6.
As expected, Pryce was never a factor, but Ford wasted no time in establishing her dominance. She had the best start and made up the stagger on Mays by 150 and pulled away from Long to take the championship in 22.34. Mays would finish 2nd in 22.51 with Mays 3rd in 22.60, which would edge Jackson for the bronze.
An elated Ford said, “I did feel a lot of pressure but my coach told me to keep a level head and be confident. I tried my best to stay as calm as possible and that definitely helped me get the win.” /Brian Russell/
FINAL (March 09: 2-section time-final)
1. ***JaMeesia Ford (SC)
2. McKenzie Long (Ms)
3. *Jadyn Mays (Or)
4. **Kaila Jackson (Ga)
5. Jacious Sears (Tn)
6. Rosey Effiong (Ar)
7. *Nickisha Pryce’ (Ar-Jam)
8. Amber Anning’ (Ar-GB)
Sections
I–1. Jackson 22.63; 2. Sears 22.69; 3. Effiong 23.10; 4. Anning 23.62.
II–1. Ford 22.34 WJR, AJR (old records 22.36 Ford ’24) (4, 7 C) (in/out: 7, x WJ, 3, 5 AJ);
2. Long 22.51; 3. Mays 22.60; 4. Pryce 23.18.
HEATS (March 08)
I–1. Mays 22.49 PR; 2. Jackson 22.55 PR; 3. Long 22.60.
II–1. Effiong 22.51 =PR; 2. Sears 22.70; 3. Niesha Burgher’ (UTEP-Jam) 22.99; 4. **Dajaz Defrand (FlSt) 23.08.
III–1. Ford 22.45; 2. Pryce’ 22.79; 3. Thelma Davies (LSU) 23.15; 4. *Iyana Gray (TCU) 23.32.
IV–1. Anning’ 22.90; 2. ***Madison Whyte (USC) 22.90 PR; 3. *Kevona Davis’ (Tx-Jam) 23.35; 4. ***Shawnti Jackson (Ar) 23.62.
400: Amber Anning (Arkansas) 50.79
With Arkansas deep in the hunt for the team title, the Razorbacks would be well represented after having 3 of the top 4 marks from the heats, with the top 8 times advancing to the final.
In section 1, Georgia’s Aaliyah Butler would start in the preferred lane 5, but Nickisha Pryce, =No. 2 on the college year list, would be in 6 for the Hogs with Michigan’s Savannah Sutherland in 4 and Texas A&M’s Jermaisha Arnold in 3.
Butler went out quickly, but so did Pryce, who pushed to the pole and took an early command and crossed the halfway point in 23.51 ahead of Butler, Arnold and Sutherland. She powered around her final lap in 27.50 for a 51.00, setting the bar high for her teammates.
Section 2 would have the top two qualifiers, Razorbacks Amber Anning, the collegiate leader, and year-list No. 4 Rosey Effiong. The teammates battled in lanes 5 and 6, with USC’s Yemi John in 4 and Hoosier Kenisha Phillips in 3.
Anning and Effiong came out blazing, with Anning on Effiong’s inside and getting the advantage of line of sight on her competitor as they approached the break. Anning passed 200 in 23.70, a tad slower than Pryce in section 1, with Effiong just 0.15 behind.
But strength would prevail. Knowing Effiong was on her tail, Anning did not let up. She powered through the second half to finish in 50.79, 0.24 in front of Effiong, but more importantly, 0.21 ahead of Pryce for the title.
“I was trying to stick with the game plan from yesterday, smooth and simple,” said Anning. “I know how [Effiong] runs. I just tried to break first and then use my strength to finish. It was a very close race, but I finished on top and I’m super proud of that.” /Brian Russell/
FINAL (March 09: 2-section time-final)
1. Amber Anning’ (Ar-GB)
2. *Nickisha Pryce’ (Ar-Jam)
3. Rosey Effiong (Ar)
4. **Aaliyah Butler (Ga)
5. *Jermaisha Arnold (TxAM)
6. **Yemi John’ (USC-GB)
7. *Savannah Sutherland’ (Mi-Can)
8. Kenisha Phillips’ (In-Guy)
Sections
I–1. Pryce 51.00 (23.51/27.49); 2. Butler 51.64 (23.60/28.04); 3. Arnold 51.83 (24.17/27.66); 4. Sutherland 52.33 (24.12/28.21).
II–1. Anning 50.79 (23.70/27.09); 2. Effiong 51.03 (23.85/27.18); 3. John 51.97 (24.36/27.61); 4. Phillips 53.92 (24.54/29.38).
HEATS (March 08)
I–1. **Isabella Whittaker (Penn) 52.93; 2. ***Kaylyn Brown (Ar) 52.97; 3. *Joanne Reid’ (Ar-Jam) 52.98; 4. **Rachel Joseph (IaSt) 53.35.
II–1. Anning’ 50.74; 2. Butler 51.46; 3. John’ 51.87; 4. **Dejanea Oakley’ (Tx-Jam) 53.50.
III–1. Effiong 51.17; 2. Phillips’ 52.42; 3. *Jessica McDowell (Il) 52.73; 4. *Vimbayi Maisvorewa’ (Aub-Zim) 53.29.
IV–1. Pryce’ 51.75; 2. Sutherland’ 52.26; 3. Arnold 52.51; 4. Abbey Glynn (Co) 52.57.
800: Juliette Whittaker (Stanford) 1:59.43 MR
Last year, LSU’s Michaela Rose led the final early before succumbing to a late kick by Stanford’s dynamic frosh duo of Roisin Willis, who won with a meet record, and Juliette Whittaker. This year, it was Whittaker’s turn.
Rose, the defending outdoor champion who entered as the top seed, again led most of the race before succumbing to a devastating kick down the homestretch by Whittaker, who ran 1:59.43 to break Willis’s meet record. Willis wasn’t a factor, as she missed getting out of the semis by 0.003.
“I went into it thinking she would take it out, so I wanted to hang on for as long as I could, especially since she’s been having an amazing season,” Whittaker said of Rose. She asserted last year’s results — being part of Stanford’s winning distance medley squad while finishing 2nd in the 800 — fueled this win.
“I’ve been dreaming of this for a while and wanting it really badly, so I’m super happy with the result,” she said.
The race was the first ever in which two collegiate women ran under 2:00. Whittaker admitted to some doubts in her head coming out of the last turn, but was able to dig deep given the stakes.
“I really try to focus on my form and just getting my knees up and just sprinting as hard as I could for the last bit,” she said. “I think I just really wanted it this year.” /Dan Simmons/
FINAL (March 09)
1. **Juliette Whittaker (Stan) 1:59.53 PR (3, 4 C; in/out: 7, 10 C)
(28.14. 30.41 [58.55], 30.34 [1:28.89], 30.64) (58.55/60.98);
2. *Michaela Rose (LSU) 1:59.81 (x, 5 C)
(27.92, 30.31 [58.33], 30.34 [1:28.67], 31.14) (58.33/61.48);
3. Meghan Hunter (BYU) 2:02.15 PR (59.64/62.51);
4. **Hayley Kitching’ (PennSt-Aus) 2:02.16 (58.99/63.17);
5. Gabija Galvydytė’ (OkSt-Lit) 2:02.31 (59.93/62.38);
6. Wilma Nielsen’ (Wa-Swe) 2:02.33 (59.31/63.02);
7. Lindsey Butler (VaT) 2:02.39 (58.96/63.43);
8. Maggi Congdon (NnAz) 2:06.41 (60.45/65.96).
HEATS (March 08)
I–1. Rose 2:02.19; 2. Butler 2:02.51; 3. Nielsen’ 2:02.56; 4. Congdon 2:02.64; 5. Galvydytė’ 2:02.89; 6. ***Gladys Chepngetich’ (Clem-Ken) 2:03.31; 7. **Sanu Jallow (Ar) 2:04.83; 8. Carley Thomas’ (Wa-Aus) 2:05.34.
II–1. Whittaker 2:03.54; 2. Hunter 2:03.60; 3. Kitching’ 2:03.64 (2:03.637); 4. **Roisin Willis (Stan) 2:03.64 (2:03.640); 5. ***Sophia Gorriaran (Harv) 2:04.61; 6. Kelly-Ann Beckford’ (Hous-Jam) 2:06.55; 7. Kate Jendrezak (UCLA) 2:07.20; 8. **Ainsley Erzen (Ar) 2:08.72.
Mile: Maia Ramsden (Harvard) 4:25.13 MR
Maia Ramsden had acceptable excuses if she didn’t win the women’s mile. The Harvard junior was only a week removed from running at Worlds for her native New Zealand, the jet lag barely worn off from the international roundtrip to Glasgow. She was also planning to run the 3K final an hour later.
Ramsden, the defending outdoor NCAA titlist in the 1500, shrugged off the excuses, the jet lag and the rest of the field, scorching the last two laps for a commanding victory. Her time of 4:25.13 set a new NCAA meet record by 2.05 seconds.
“We talked before about being decisive and committing to making a move and being confident,” Ramsden said of pre-race strategy talks with her coach, Alex Gibby. “That was the mentality I wanted to have going into today.”
Ramsden sat behind Providence junior Kimberley May for the first six laps. With two laps to go, Ramsden moved ahead. May, who finished 3rd, and Oklahoma State soph Billah Jepkirui hung with Ramsden for a lap before Ramsden dropped the hammer decisively the final lap, closing in 30.39.
Ramsden credited the hometown crowd in Boston. Her parents, teammates and roommates rooted her on, many wearing t-shirts with a cartoon Ramsden in her black singlet holding up the #1 sign. She scratched the 3000 amid more pressing concerns.
“My suitcase is still packed,” she said with a laugh. “I haven’t unpacked yet. I would say that’s really it in a nutshell.” /Dan Simmons/
FINAL (March 09)
1. *Maia Ramsden’ (Harv-NZ) 4:25.13 (x, 3 C; in/out: x, 3 C)
(33.80, 33.97 [67.77], 34.49 [1:42.26], 34.04 [2:16.30], 33.53 [2:49.83], 33.25 [3:23.08], 31.66 [3:54.74], 30.39) (30.39, 62.05, 2:08.83);
2. **Billah Jepkirui’ (OkSt-Ken) 4:27.14 PR (6, 7 C; in/out: 6, 7 C)
(31.69, 63.77, 2:10.57);
3. *Kimberley May’ (Prov-NZ) 4:27.36 PR (9, 10 C; in/out: 9,10 C)
(32.28, 64.13, 2:11.35);
4. *Melissa Riggins (Gtn) 4:29.02 PR (31.60, 64.88, 2:11.94);
5. *Margot Appleton (Va) 4:29.07 PR; 6. *Ceili McCabe’ (WV-Can) 4:29.26 PR; 7. **Klaudia Kazimierska’ (Or-Pol) 4:30.65; 8. Flomena Asekol’ (Fl-Ken) 4:35.34; 9. Maggi Congdon (NnAz) 4:36.71; 10. *Shannon Flockhart’ (Prov-GB) 4:36.73.
HEATS (March 08)
I–1. May’ 4:31.84; 2. McCabe’ 4:32.25; 3. Riggins 4:32.83; 4. Flockhart’ 4:33.08; 5. Asekol’ 4:33.67; 6. Congdon 4:34.06; 7. *Anna Workman’ (Va-Can) 4:36.71; 8. Kileigh Kane (PennSt) 4:44.24.
II–1. Ramsden’ 4:35.44; 2. Jepkirui’ 4:35.56; 3. Appleton 4:35.58; 4. Kazimierska’ 4:35.73; 5. **Silan Ayyildiz’ (Or-Tur) 4:36.21; 6. *Laura Pellicoro’ (Port-Ita) 4:36.23; 7. **Chloe Foerster (Wa) 4:36.35; 8. *Carmen Alder’ (BYU-Ecu) 4:41.55.
3000: Parker Valby (Florida) 8:41.40 MR
After Parker Valby’s awe-inspiring run in the 5000 on Friday night, would she perhaps be tired and vulnerable in the next day’s 3000? On paper, she had challengers aplenty, from 5K runner-up Taylor Roe to mile winner Maia Ramsden to list leader Olivia Markezich of Notre Dame.
That line-up thinned out fast. Ramsden was a late scratch, and Roe fell hard at 550m, then walked off. Florida led in the person of Flomena Asekol, who had placed just 8th in the mile. Following her was Markezich and Valby, with Alabama’s Hilda Olemomoi next. Shortly after 800, Asekol dropped, mathematically dooming the Gator’s team chances.
With the rabbit gone, Markezich took over. She and Valby ran away from the field, passing 1600 in 4:43.99 and 2K in 5:53.38. To many, it looked like we might finally see a close race for Valby. That, however, proved an illusion. After 2K, the Gator junior unleashed herself and her lead steadily grew.
Running with power and, indeed, gleeful abandon, Valby stretched her stride and put on another master class in domination. Covering the final kilometer in 2:48.06, she took down another meet record, this one held by Colorado’s Jenny (Barringer) Simpson since ’09. Her 8:41.50 makes Valby No. 3 in collegiate history.
Markezich held on for 2nd in 8:46.71, with Doris Lemngole of Alabama 3rd in a PR 8:50.70.
“I just felt good and my coach told me to save it for the last 1K,” Valby said. “I gave it all I had and I didn’t have much left in the tank by the end… It was definitely not easy. I was tired from the 5000 yesterday, but I’m happy with the result.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
(March 09)
1. *Parker Valby (Fl) 8:41.50 PR (3, 3 C; in/out: 3, 3 C)
(33.72, 67.08, 2:13.67);
2. Olivia Markezich (NDm) 8:46.71 (x, 9 C; in/out: x, 9 C)
(35.09, 69.83, 2:18.65);
3. ***Doris Lemngole’ (Al-Ken) 8:50.70 PR (35.03, 71.03, 2:21.95);
4. *Lexy Halladay-Lowry (BYU) 8:53.08; 5. *Hilda Olemomoi’ (Al-Ken) 8:55.88; 6. **Riley Chamberlain (BYU) 8:56.89; 7. **Chloe Scrimgeour (Gtn) 8:57.28; 8. **Maddy Elmore (Or) 8:58.52; 9. Sadie Sargent (BYU) 9:02.90; 10. Kaylee Mitchell (OrSt) 9:02.91; 11. *Melissa Riggins (Gtn) 9:15.87; 12. **Billah Jepkirui’ (OkSt-OkSt) 9:16.97;… dnf—Flomena Asekol (Fl), Taylor Roe (OkSt), *Amina Maatoug (Duke).
5000: Parker Valby (Florida) 14:52.79 CR
Florida’s Parker Valby came in undefeated in finals by collegians for more than a year, including the 2023 Outdoor 5000 and Cross Country. The question whether anyone would go with the black-clad Gator was answered by Oklahoma State’s Taylor Roe, the 2022 3000 champ, as the duo opened up 10m on the rest of the field by 400 (70.28).
Valby proceeded to lay down a steady tempo of 36s circuits, with Roe looking full of run, even moving on the straightaways from directly behind the leader, to slightly off her shoulder, as if to remind the favorite that she wasn’t going anywhere.
At 3K (9:03.88) an upset still seemed possible, but Valby started squeezing the tempo down to 35s, Roe finally looking vulnerable, just trying to stay in her slipstream.
The vise kept tightening, and a hint of daylight opened up with 7 laps remaining, growing to a few meters with 6 to go.
From then on, it was only a matter of how much Valby would win by, and whether she’d conserve energy for the 3000. Forget that. The pace dipped into the 34s, despite extensive lapping, as Valby broke her own absolute Collegiate Record in 14:52.79.
Roe struggled a bit the last half-mile, but her 15:15.01 managed to hold off the fast-charging Alabama duo of Hilda Olemomoi (15:17.27) and Doris Lemngole (15:17.27).
Valby’s final 3000 split of 8:50.54 was faster than all but two NCAA Indoor winning times in that event.
“My coach told me to turn the knob up a little bit with five laps to go,” she said. “And each lap I was like ‘turn up the knob a little bit more, and a little bit more’, until I finished.” /Dan Lilot/
(March 08)
1. *Parker Valby (Fl) 14:52.79 CR, absolute CR (old records 14:56.11 Valby ’24) (9, 9 A)
(34.66, 35.62 [1:10.28], 36.37 [1:46.65], 36.53 [2:23.18], 36.63 [2:59.81], 36.95 [3:36.76], 36.86 [4:13.62], 36.14 [4:49.76], 36.08 [5:25.84], 36.41 [6:02.25], 36.48 [6:38.73], 36.48 [7:15.21], 36.42 [7:51.63], 36.09 [8:27.72], 36.16 [9:03.88], 35.78 [9:39.66], 35.63 [10:15.29], 35.39 [10:50.68], 35.37 [11:26.05], 34.81 [12:00.86], 34.68 [12:35.54], 34.21 [13:09.75], 34.18 [13:43.93], 34.36 [14:18.29], 34.50)
(34.50, 68.86, 2:17.25);
2. Taylor Roe (OkSt) 15:15.01 (x, 10 C)
(38.14, 76.84, 2:34.14);
3. *Hilda Olemomoi’ (Al-Ken) 15:17.27 PR
(31.16, 68.44, 2:23.31);
4. ***Doris Lemngole’ (Al-Ken) 15:17.43
(31.17, 68.75, 2:23.67);
5. *Lexy Halladay-Lowry (BYU) 15:20.73 PR; 6. Molly Born (OkSt) 15:20.89 PR; 7. **Chloe Scrimgeour (Gtn) 15:21.80 PR; 8. **Grace Hartman (NCSt) 15:28.57 PR; 9. **Jenna Hutchins (BYU) 15:31.42; 10. *Phoebe Anderson’ (Col-GB) 15:37.21; 11. Aubrey Frentheway (BYU) 15:37.30; 12. Ella Baran (Co) 15:38.72; 13. Samantha Bush (NCSt) 15:40.83; 14. Kenzie Doyle (MaL) 15:49.30; 15. Gracelyn Larkin’ (NnAz-Can) 16:03.80; 16. *Lucy Jenks (Stan) 16:07.16.
60 Hurdles: Jasmine Jones (USC) 7.77 CL
The list leader with her 7.78 for 2nd at the USATF Indoor, USC’s Jasmine Jones wanted, among other things, to prove that she made the right decision in skipping the World Indoors. She didn’t run the indoor hurdles last year, and her memories from ’22 weren’t pleasant — she fell hard in the final while she was trailing the field. So she came to town hungry this year.
Jones ran 7.90 to win her heat over Michigan’s Aasia Laurencin (7.99 PR), but would face off against ’22 champion Grace Stark, who had taken the first heat in 7.83 ahead of LSU’s Alia Armstrong (7.92).
Stark, who had placed 6th in the 60 final just 30 minutes earlier, started in lane 4. Armstrong was in 3, Jones in 5. Normally Stark is a lightning starter, but at hurdle 1 she trailed both Jones and Laurencin. Jones powered ahead, with a clear lead by hurdle 3 as Armstrong pressed Stark and Laurencin fell back.
Over the last two hurdles, Stark came on and drew closer to Jones, the two leaning at the finish well-separated from the field. It was Jones by a foot, her winning time a PR 7.77. Stark clocked a season-best 7.81 as Armstrong held 3rd in 7.94. Destiny Huven delivered key points for the Razorbacks with her 7.99 PR in 4th.
Said Jones, “As soon as I crossed, I was like ‘Wow! No way!’ But it feels so good, this has been a long time coming, so I’m really excited.”
The key, she added, was that runner-up finish at the USATF meet. “It really gave me that confidence that I needed for indoors and a big PR that I’ve been waiting for a couple years for, and going in I told myself that I could do this.” /Jeff Hollobaugh/
FINAL (March 09)
1. *Jasmine Jones (USC) 7.77 PR (9, x A; 3, =5 C);
2. Grace Stark (Fl) 7.81;
3. Alia Armstrong (LSU) 7.94;
4. Destiny Huven (Ar) 7.99 PR;
5. Leah Phillips (LSU) 8.00;
6. Aasia Laurencin (Mi) 8.04;
7. **Aaliyah McCormick (Or) 8.26;
8. Rosealee Cooper’ (MsSt-Jam) 8.27.
HEATS (March 08)
I–1. Stark 7.83; 2. Armstrong 7.92; 3. Huven 8.03 PR; 4. McCormick 8.04; 5. Cooper’ 8.05 PR; 6. Phillips 8.06; 7. *Paige Magee (Ia) 8.41;… dnf—**Sky Hagan (SJSt).
II–1. Jones 7.90; 2. Laurencin 7.99 PR; 3. **Oneka Wilson’ (Clem-Jam) 8.07; 4. *Emelia Chatfield (Tx) 8.09; 5. *Antoinette Van Der Merwe’ (Clem-SA) 8.12; 6. *Marissa Simpson’ (UTEP-Jam) 8.17; 7. **Layla Anderson (Tn) 8.19; 8. Rayniah Jones (UCF) 8.78.
4 x 400: South Carolina 3:26.20
As the Arkansas Razorbacks crossed the line first in 3:25.99, ESPN announcer Dwight Stones proclaimed, “There has never been a team three-peat in this event at the NCAA Championships.”
And there still hasn’t.
Too late to be noted on the broadcast, the Hogs were disqualified due to leadoff leg Kaylyn Brown stepping on the line on consecutive steps just before the lane break, violating NCAA rule 7.5-2b.
It was an unfortunate DQ, as Arkansas delivered a commanding performance, leading wire-to-wire not only in the third heat but, timewise, across them all.
It would have been all the more impressive given that the super-deep Razorbacks, having already clinched the team title, left 400 winner Amber Anning and runner-up Nickisha Pryce off the relay. Brown’s 51.47 was followed by legs of 51.62 (Joanne Reid), 51.75 (Sanu Jallow) and 51.18 (400 3rd-placer Rosey Effiong).
South Carolina threatened Arkansas on the final leg, but JaMeesia Ford’s 50.74 anchor (the second-fastest split of the competition) couldn’t quite reel Effiong in.
What Ford couldn’t accomplish, the rules committee did. That put South Carolina 1st in 3:26.20. Ford was preceded by Zaya Akins (52.43), Jahnile Registre (51.55) and Jayla Jamison (51.50). The fastest split of the race came from Georgia’s second-leg Aaliyah Butler in 50.72.
The next three placers all came from heat 2: USC 3:27.62, Houston 3:28.28 and Texas 3:28.91. Tennessee’s 3:29.29, winning the first heat, held up for 5th overall.
Fortunately for Arkansas, which came into the final event with a 5-point lead, Florida did not have a 4×4 entry. If the Gators had been present, those two steps might have been an even bigger disaster. /Lee Nichols/
(March 09: 3-section time-final)
1. South Carolina
2. USC
3. Houston
4. Texas
5. Tennessee
6. Georgia
7. Oregon
8. LSU
9. Penn
10. UCLA
11. Texas A&M
…dq—Arkansas
Sections
I–1. Tennessee 3:29.79
(Valcourt 53.29, Miles 51.77, Robinson-Hubbard 52.70, White 52.03);
2. Oregon 3:30.89
(Grebo’ 53.19, Clayton 52.61, Wright 52.85, Hall 52.24);
3. LSU 3:31.05
(Onujevwevwo’ 53.16, Rose 52.47, Lyston’ 53.25, White’ 52.17);
4. UCLA 3:33.13
(Conyers 53.96, Jendrezak 51.82, Fletcher 53.41, Johnson 53.94).
II–1. USC 3:27.62
(Jan. Jones 52.27, Jas. Jones 51.24, John’ 52.41, Whyte 51.70);
2. Houston 3:28.28 (#10 school)
(Townsend 53.42, Beckford’ 51.74, Babineaux 52.25, Mouton 50.87);
3. Texas 3:28.91
(Lewis 53.18, Holman 51.30, Oakley’ 51.54, Davis 52.89);
4. Penn 3:31.82
(Abinusawa 53.63, Nwachuku 52.67, Garozzo 52.87, Whittaker 52.65).
III–1. South Carolina 3:26.20 (x, 5 A;x, 8 C)
(Akins 52.43, Registre 51.55, Jamison 51.49, Ford 50.73);
2. Georgia 3:30.07
(Harris 53.69, Butler 50.72, Tate 52.31, Mustin 53.35);
3. Texas A&M 3:36.11
(Dickson 55.46, Wood 51.80, Kabongo 53.70, Arnold 55.15);
… dq—[1]Arkansas [3:25.99]
(Brown 51.47, Reid’ 51.61, Jallow 51.74, Effiong 51.17).
Distance Medley: BYU 10:51.42
Florida’s Elise Thorner led for much of the leadoff 1200 leg at a brisk pace, only to be passed by Shannon Flockhart of Providence (3:18.89), who opened up an 8m lead at the hand-off over Washington and BYU.
Gator Laila Owens (52.65) received the baton in 4th, but started quickly, taking the lead on the first backstretch. Heading into the leg’s final turn, Boston College’s Sydney Segalla (52.19, fastest of the race), moved into the lead, causing Owens to cut her stride, but the duo handed off 10m clear of 3rd-place Providence.
The field bunched again during the 800 leg, but with one lap remaining, Alex O’Neill of Providence, in 3rd, tripped and fell, causing Oregon and Washington also to go down. Boston College’s Aoife Dunne (2:06.96) took advantage of the chaos to build an 8m lead over Florida, Arkansas and Oklahoma State, with Notre Dame 10m further back.
On the second lap of the 1600m leg, Florida’s Flomena Asekol moved into the lead, but the pace slowed, and all but one team was now in contention.
Shortly thereafter, Fighting Irish senior Olivia Markezich, last year’s indoor 3000 runner-up and outdoor steeple champ, took the lead and started to apply pressure, gradually stringing out the field, followed closely by BYU’s Riley Chamberlin.
Approaching the bell, Chamberlain made a huge move into 1st, pulling away down the backstretch, her 4:27.78 carry, the fastest of the race, giving the Cougars the win in 10:51.42. Markezich (4:30.15) did enough to hold off Florida 10:53.14–10:54.40.
Said BYU leadoff runner Sargent, “Coach [Diljeet Taylor] told us to believe in ourselves and in each other. That is exactly what we did today.” /Dan Lilot/
(March 08)
1. BYU 10:51.42
(Sargent 3:20.65, Oblad 55.50, Hansen 2:07.49, Chamberlain 4:27.78);
2. Notre Dame 10:53.14
(Novak 3:20.78, Borsch 55.27, Farley 2:06.94, Markezich 4:30.15);
3. Florida 10:54.40
(Thorner’ 3:20.75, Owens 52.65, Edwards 2:07.84, Asekol’ 4:33.16);
4. Arkansas 10:56.15
(Cochran 3:22.56, Reid’ 52.54, Jallow 2:07.00, LoStracco’ 4:34.05);
5. Oregon 10:57.24
(Barnett 3:23.25, Clayton 52.58, Nelson 2:10.01, Ayyildiz’ 4:31.40);
6. Providence 10:57.34
(Flockhart 3:18.89, Fenerty 56.10, O’Neill 2:12.52, May’ 4:29.83);
7. Oklahoma State 10:57.54
(Boone 3:21.93, Woodley 53.26, Salek 2:06.79, Auerbach 4:35.56);
8. Penn State 10:57.65
(Ullom 3:23.29, Goldstein 53.45, Vanriele 2:07.62, Caron 4:33.29);
9. Boston College 10:58.67
(Bilo 3:21.02, Segalla 52.19, Dunne 2:06.96, Hudson 4:38.50);
10. Stanford 11:03.99
(Dudek’ 3:22.02, Valmon 54.55, James 2:05.89, Kennedy 4:41.53);
11. Washington 11:04.06
(Foerster 3:20.34, Terrell 55.44, Preigh 2:10.03, Weir 4:38.25);
12. Virginia 11:11.25
(Timm 3:26.82, Sabbakhan 55.37, Hock 2:08.67, Workman 4:40.39).