FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS, February 23–24 — Three times previously in her career Lamara Distin had high jumped at a would-be Collegiate Record bar. Here at the SEC Championships the Texas A&M senior cleared it.
Her leap over 6-6¾ (2.00) on third attempt erased 2-meters as a ceiling for collegians and bettered the 6-6 (1.98) CIR shared by Destinee Hooker of Texas (’09) and Akela Jones of Kansas State (’16) and the 6-6¼ (1.99) absolute CR cleared by Arizona’s Brigetta Barrett in 2013. It also brought Distin the Jamaican record.
Distin — winner of three of the past four NCAA titles ( ’22 indoors & out and 23 indoor) — had topped out at 6-5½ (1.97) at meets in ’22, ’23 & ’24. with her most recent such clearance coming at Clemson on February 10.
“I was on Twitter the other day,” Distin said after breaking through her ceiling, “and there was this guy that was like, ‘Oh, I think she’s stuck at 1.97.’
“I was like, ‘OK, I’m going to let my actions speak it.’ Cuz I don’t know why people be so mean sometimes, but I feel like the negativity also kind of drives me to jump my best.”
Distin jumped with confidence the record was within her grasp — even as the men’s award ceremony interrupted proceedings and her first two tries at the bar were not close. “I was like, ‘I got this.’ I’ve been doing 2-meter approaches at [practice] and I almost did it. So I’m like, ‘Why can’t I come out here and do it?’”
Distin told herself, “’Let me just stay focused.’ And that’s what I’ve been doing and I’m just glad it happened. So I’m grateful.”
Only Ukraine’s Yaroslava Mahuchikh (6-8¼/2.04) and Australia’s Nicola Olyslagers (6-8/2.03) have jumped higher in 2024 — or negotiated higher bars in ’23, for that matter — than Distin, who placed 5th at last summer’s World Champs in Budapest.
First-year Arkansas head coach Chris Johnson’s claimed the Razorbacks’ 10th consecutive loop win with 131 points ahead of Florida (80) and LSU (68½). Depth drove the score along with wins from senior Amber Anning in the 400 (50.46, as she moved to No. 6 all-time collegian) and junior Sydney Thorvaldson in the 5000 (15:42.45).
Said Johnson, “It was a collective effort. I mean, this is a fantastic team and we’ve been building this team for a long time. And just to get to this point, we’re excited. And we’re looking forward to Nationals.”
The 200 victory of South Carolina frosh JaMeesia Ford in 22.36 equaled the World and American Junior Records she set two weeks earlier at Clemson.
The meet saw significant modifications to collegiate ATLs. LSU junior Michaela Rose handily defended her 800 crown in 1:59.25 rising to No. 2 all-time collegian and No. 9 on the US ATL.
Florida’s Parker Valby put up a dominating 3000 win in 8:42.29 that made her No. 5 all-time among collegians.
The 4×4 was one hard-fought relay, won by South Carolina in 3:26.05 from Arkansas’s 3:26.33. The Gamecock squad, anchored by Ford’s 49.80, was the No. 3 all-time U.S. mark and No. 7 collegiately. Arkansas did not run Anning in the baton race yet its time was good for No. 9 on the college compilation.
Distin was pushed by Razorback soph Rachel Glenn in the high jump (6-4¼/1.94, No. 8 on the collegiate ATL).
Mississippi senior thrower Jalani Davis lofted the weight out to 82-3¾ (25.09). That made her not just the third collegian over 25m with the No. 5 all-time throw, but the No. 8 American.
A day later Davis took the shot at 61-¾ (18.61) — good for No. 8 all-time among U.S. collegians — with Florida’s Alida van Daalen less than an inch back at 61-0 (18.59).
SEC WOMEN’S RESULTS
Teams: 1. Arkansas 131; 2. Florida 80; 3. LSU 68½; 4. Texas A&M 61; 5. Mississippi 52½; 6. Georgia 47; 7. Auburn 41; 8. Tennessee 38; 9. Alabama 35; 10. Kentucky 30½; 11. South Carolina 30; 12. Vanderbilt 25; 13. Mississippi State 11; 14. Missouri 9½.
60: 1. **Brianna Lyston’ (LSU-Jam) 7.08; 2. Jacious Sears (Tn) 7.12; 3. **Kaila Jackson (Ga) 7.18.
200: I–1. McKenzie Long (Ms) 22.60.
II–1. ***JaMeesia Ford (SC) 22.36 =WJR, =AJR (= records 22.36 Ford ’24) (=3, =4 A; =4, =7 C) (in/out: =9, x WJ; =4, =6 AJ);
2. Rosey Effiong (Ar) 22.51.
400: I–1. ***Kaylyn Brown (Ar) 50.83; 2. Effiong 51.00.
II–1. Amber Anning’ (Ar-GB) 50.43 (6, 6 C);
2. Pryce’ 50.83
800: 1. *Michaela Rose (LSU) 1:59.25 (9, x A; 2, 2 C; in/out: x, 6 C);
2. **Sanu Jallow (Ar) 2:02.76; 3. ***Judy Kosgei’ (SC-Ken) 2:02.87.
Mile: 1. Flomena Asekol’ (Fl-Ken) 4:38.35; 2. Lorena Rangel Batres’ (LSU-Mex) 4:39.51; 3. *Tiana LoStracco’ (Ar-Can) 4:39.57.
3000: I–1. *Parker Valby (Fl) 8:42.29 (5, 5 C; in/out: 5, 5 C).
II–1. ***Doris Lemngole’ (Al-Ken) 9:06.21; 2. *Hilda Olemomoi’ (Al-Ken) 9:06.39; 3. *Sydney Thorvaldson (Ar) 9:09.70.
5000: 1. Thorvaldson 15:42.45; 2. **Brenda Tuwei (Al) 15:53.86; 3. Amelia Mazza-Downie (Fl) 16:00.49.
60H: 1. Stark 7.90; 2. Alia Armstrong (LSU) 7.96; 3. Leah Phillips (LSU) 8.03.
4 x 400: 1. South Carolina 3:26.05 (3 A; 7 C; #5 school) (Akins 52.93, Registre 51.88, Jamison 51.44, Ford 49.80);
2. Arkansas 3:26.33 (9 C) (Reid’ 52.37, Glenn 51.88, Jallow 51.44, Brown 50.49);
3. Texas A&M 3:28.77 (Dickson 52.90, Wood 52.40, Kabongo 52.53, Arnold 50.94).
DisMed: 1. Florida 10:53.29 (Thorner’ 3:24.20, Owens 52.11, Asekol’ 2:05.54, Valby 4:31.44); 2. Alabama 11:04.27; 3. Vanderbilt 11:15.13.
Field Events
HJ: 1. Lamara Distin’ (TxAM-Jam) 6-6¾ (2.00) CR, absolute CR (old CR 6-6/1.98 Destinee Hooker [Tx] ’09 & Akela Jones’ [KsSt] ’16) (old absolute CR 6-6¼/1.99 Brigetta Barrett [Az] ’13) (5-10¾, 6-¾, 6-2, 6-3¼, 6-4¼, 6-5½, 6-6¾ [xxo]) (1.80, 1.85, 1.88, 1.91, 1.94, 1.97, 2.00 [xxo]);
2. **Rachel Glenn (Ar) 6-4¼ (1.94) (8, x AmC);
3. *Elena Kulichenko’ (Ga-Rus) 6-3¼ (1.91).
PV: 1. *Heather Abadie’ (TxAM-Can) 14-2 (4.32); 2. tie, Marin Chamberlin (Ar) & *Sarah Schmitt (Tn) 13-10 (4.22).
LJ: 1. Claire Bryant (Fl) 22-¾ (6.72); 2. *Nia Robinson (Ar) 21-1½ (6.44); 3. *Joniar Thomas’ (TxAM-Grn) 21-0 (6.40).
TJ: 1. Mikeisha Welcome’ (Ga-StV) 44-1¼ (13.44); 2. ***Taylor Fingers (LSU) 42-10¾ (13.07); 3. *Simone Johnson (Aub) 42-10¼ (13.06).
SP: 1. Jalani Davis (Ms) 61-¾ (18.61) (8, x AmC) (51-¾, 52-9¼, f, f, 61-¾, f) (15.56, 16.08, f, f, 18.61, f);
2. **Alida Van Daalen’ (Fl-Neth) 61-0 (18.59); 3. Sarah Omoregie’ (Vand-GB) 56-1¾ (17.11).
Wt: 1. Davis 82-3¾ (25.09) (9, x W; 8, x A; 3, 5 C) (73-0, 82-3¾, 78-10½, f, f, 77-5½) (22.25, 25.09, 24.04, f, f, 23.61);
Jasmine Mitchell (Ms) 75-7¼ (23.04).
Pent: 1. Charity Hufnagel (Ky) 4098; 2. **Paula Grauvogel (Aub) 4011; 3. *Joniar Thomas’ (TxAM-Grn) 3997.