GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA, May 09-11 — The moment of the SEC Championships came at 7:15 p.m. Saturday, when the Arkansas 400 squad finished 1-2-3; Nickisha Pryce won in 49.32, moving to No. 3 all-time among collegians as she missed the Jamaican Record by just 0.02. Frosh Kaylyn Brown, 19, crossed in 49.47; she is now the No. 4 collegian ever. Her December 31 birthday means she was born a day too early to break Athing Mu’s U20 American Record. In 3rd came Britain’s Amber Anning in 49.51, No. 5 collegian ever. Georgia’s Aaliyah Butler took 4th in 49.79 to become No. 9.
The idea of a one college putting three women under 50-seconds is crazy enough. In the same race? Look at it this way. Only three times in history has a nation put three women under 50 in the same race — the East German nationals in ’84, and the USATF nationals in ’05 and ’23. Then consider Rosey Effiong in 5th at 50.75, a performance that raised hopes for a monster Razorback 4×4 — those times add up to 3:19.05, 2.7 seconds faster than the Collegiate Record.
Arkansas head coach Chris Johnson told wholehogsports.com, “It kind of leaves you awestruck. Obviously, you hope and dream for it, and you know they’re capable of it. But doing it on that day in this atmosphere, it’s quite difficult. These young ladies are special, they’re running well.”
But the NCAA indoor champions had some bad breaks as well, and fell short of defending their title. Rachel Glenn, for instance, ran an NCAA-leading 54.02 in the heats of the 400H, moving to No. 7 on the all-time collegiate list. Leading the final, she fell badly on the last hurdle, salvaging just one point as Mississippi’s Gabrielle Matthews won in a PR 55.12. In the high jump, the Collegiate Record holder cleared 6-3½ (1.92) to finish behind Georgia’s Elena Kulichenko’s Cypriot Record 6-4¾ (1.95).
Racking up the big points were LSU’s Tigers, who eventually finished with 126, well ahead of Arkansas’s 110 and Florida’s 101. It was the 14th SEC outdoor crown for the Bengals, who hadn’t won since ’12. Soph Brianna Lyston took the 100 in 10.91 (0.3 wind) to rank No. 9 in history. Tennessee’s Jacious Sears, who dashed 9.77 a month earlier, DNFed her heat with an apparent hamstring injury. Michaela Rose burned another great two-lapper, her 1:58.89 the fourth-fastest in college annals. Behind her, Arkansas’s Sanu Jallow ran 1:59.29 to tie the No. 5 performer.
The 100H featured a powerful win by Florida’s Grace Stark in 12.53 — she became the No. 8 American collegian ever. Behind her a trio of Tigers tallied a welcome 19 points: Shani’a Bellamy (12.81), Leah Phillips (12.86) and Alia Armstrong (13.04).
Mississippi’s McKenzie Long zipped to No. 5 on the all-time list with her 22.03 win at 200. Behind her, South Carolina frosh JaMeesia Ford ran 22.11 to tie Allyson Felix’s American Junior Record.
Florida won the 1500 and 5000, with Flomena Asekol (4:12.40) and Parker Valby (15:07.86) cruising on their home track. The other distances fell to Alabama, with Doris Lemngole (the 5000 runner-up), taking the steeple in 9:28.21. Teammate Hilda Olemomoi won the 10,000 in a humid 33:47.19.
Tennessee had a day in the relays; winning times of 42.42 and 3:24.44 made the Vols the No. 7 school ever at both distances. Arkansas, using only one of their individual 400 placers, finished 3rd in 3:26.13, behind South Carolina’s 3:25.02 (Ford anchoring in 49.71).
The throws brought together serious talent. First, Jasmine Mitchell won the hammer for Mississippi, her first-round 223-3 (68.06) just 15 inches past Georgia’s Stephanie Ratcliffe (PR 222-0/67.68). Texas A&M went 1-2 in the javelin, Lianna Davidson (189-11/57.89) topping Katelyn Fairchild (185-9/56.62).
On Friday, Mississippi’s Jalani Davis led the shot from her first throw of 59-10¼ (18.24), but Vanderbilt’s Veronica Fraley threw a PR 60-¼ (18.29) on her last for the win. Mississippi’s Akaoma Odeluga (PR 59-5/18.11 to become the No. 2 U.S. Junior ever)) and Florida’s Alida van Daalen (58-10/17.93) took the next two spots. In Saturday’s discus, it was Fraley who led from round 1, scoring her best throw of 202-2 (61.62) in round 4. But van Daalen saved her best two throws for last, and took the win when she launched her 202-8 (61.79) in round 5.
In other events, Florida’s Claire Bryant took the long jump at 22-¾ (6.72) and Missouri’s Euphenie Andre the triple at 43-8½ (13/32). In the heptathlon, A&M’s Timara Chapman scored 6124 to top Kentucky’s Charity Hufnagel’s PR 5914.
SEC WOMEN’S RESULTS
Teams: 1. LSU 126; 2. Arkansas 110; 3. Florida 101; 4. Texas A&M 74; 5. Georgia 72; 6. Mississippi 66; 7. Tennessee 51; 8. Vanderbilt 45; 9. Alabama 42; 10. South Carolina 37; 11. Kentucky 36; 12. Auburn 24; 13. Missouri 21; 14. Mississippi State 14.
100(0.3): 1. **Brianna Lyston’ (LSU-Jam) 10.91 (9, x C); 2. **Kaila Jackson (Ga) 10.95 (=10, x AmC);
3. Thelma Davies (LSU) 11.01; 4. Dennisha Page (Tn) 11.10; 5. ***Tima Godbless’ (LSU-Ngr) 11.14;
6. Jahniya Bowers (Ms) 11.16; 7. ***JaMeesia Ford (SC) 11.24;… dnf—Jacious Sears (Tn).
200(0.6): 1. McKenzie Long (Ms) 22.03 (5, 7 C);
2. Ford 22.11 =AJR; lo-alt AJR (=AJR Allyson Felix [CaHS] ’03; old lo-alt AJR 22.17 Sha’Carri Richardson [LSU] ’19) (=2, =8 WJ; 9, x C);
3. Davies 22.17; 4. Lyston’ 22.37; 5. Jackson 22.38; 6. Page 22.39; 7. Nickisha Pryce’ (Ar-Jam) 22.67.
400: 1. Pryce’ 49.32 (3, 3 C); 2. ***Kaylyn Brown (Ar) 49.47 (4, 6 C); 3. Anning’ 49.51 (5, 10 C); 4. **Aaliyah Butler (Ga) 49.79 (9, x C);
5. Effiong 50.75; 6. Jermaisha Arnold (TxAM) 50.80; 7. Brianna White (Tn) 50.83; 8. **Ella Onojuvwevwo’ (LSU-Ngr) 50.86.
Heats: I–1. Brown 49.86 (6, x C). II–1. Pryce’ 49.72 (5, x C).
800: 1. *Michaela Rose (LSU) 1:58.89 (x, 4 C); 2. **Sanu Jallow (Ar) 1:59.29 (=5, =9 C);
3. **Sylvia Chelangat’ (SC-Ken) 2:01.23; 4. Sydney Steely (Ky) 2:02.19; 5. Lorena Rangel Batres’ (LSU-Mex) 2:03.36.
1500: 1. Flomena Asekol’ (Fl-Ken) 4:12.40; 2. Batres’ 4:12.78; 3. ***Judy Kosgei’ (SC-Ken) 4:15.07; 4. Tiana LoStracco’ (Ar-Can) 4:15.78.
St: 1. ***Doris Lemngole’ (Al-Ken) 9:28.21 (x, 10 C);
2. Elise Thorner’ (Fl-GB) 9:43.20; 3. Laura Taborda’ (Ar-Por) 9:52.99; 4. ***Teresa Cherotich’ (SC-Ken) 10:06.63.
5000: 1. *Parker Valby (Fl) 15:07.86 (x, 8 C);
2. Lemngole’ 15:25.86; 3. ***Paityn Noe (Ar) 15:34.49; 4. *Sydney Thorvaldson (Ar) 15:48.11; 5. Emily Covert (Tn) 15:52.26.
10,000: 1. *Hilda Olemomoi’ (Al-Ken) 33:47.19; 2. Noe 33:57.35; 3. Covert 34:03.03; 4. ***Bria Bennis (Vand) 34:11.28; 5. **Brenda Tuwei’ (Al-Ken) 34:11.87.
100H(0.8): 1. Grace Stark (Fl) 12.53 (8, x AmC);
2. Shani’a Bellamy (LSU) 12.81; 3. Leah Phillips (LSU) 12.86; 4. Alia Armstrong (LSU) 13.04; 5. **Jaiya Covington (TxAM) 13.05; 6. *Danae Nembhard’ (Aub-Jam) 13.06; 7. Destiny Huven (Ar) 13.08.
400H: 1. **Gabrielle Matthews’ (Ms-Jam) 55.12; 2. Dominique Mustin (Ga) 55.60; 3. Bellamy 56.40;
4. **Allyria McBride (Vand) 56.44; 5. *Garriel White’ (LSU-Jam) 57.58; 6. Phillips 57.75;… 8. *Rachel Glenn (Ar) 1:12.11 (fell at final hurdle while leading).
Heats: I–1. Glenn 54.02 (7, x C).
4 x 100: I–1. Auburn 43.65; 2. Mississippi State 43.93.
II–1. Tennessee 42.42 (#7 school) (Sears, Page, Miles, Lloyd’); 2. Mississippi 42.47 (#8 school);
3. LSU 42.49; 4. Florida 43.69.
4 x 400: II–1. Tennessee 3:24.44 (#7 school) (Valcourt’, Robinson-Hubbard, Miles 50.69, White 50.24); 2. South Carolina 3:25.02 (#10 school) (Chelangat’ 51.71, Ford 49.71);
3. Arkansas 3:26.13 (Reid’ 52.55, Jallow 51.37); 4. Georgia 3:27.47 (S. Harris 52.46, Tate 52.38); 5. LSU 3:28.08 (Rose 50.82, White’ 52.60); 6. Texas A&M 3:29.59 (Arnold 51.09).
Field Events
HJ: 1. *Elena Kulichenko’ (Ga-Cyp) 6-4¾ (1.95); 2. Glenn 6-3½ (1.92); 3. Lamara Distin’ (TxAM-Jam) 6-2¼ (1.89); 4. Charity Hufnagel (Ky) 6-½ (1.84).
PV: 1. *Heather Abadie’ (TxAM-Can) 14-1¼ (4.30); 2. *Payton Phillips (Ky) 13-11¼ (4.25); 3. Marin Chamberlin (Ar) 13-11¼.
LJ: 1. Claire Bryant (Fl) 22-¾ (6.72); 2. **Anthaya Charlton’ (Fl-Bah) 21-7½ (6.59); 3. Nia Robinson’ (Ar-Jam) 21-2 (6.45); 4. **Caelyn Harris (Al) 21-1½ (6.44).
TJ: 1. Euphenie Andre (Mo) 43-8½ (13.32); 2. Mikeisha Welcome’ (Ga-StV) 42-11¾ (13.10); 3. Smalls 42-11 (13.08);
4. Alissa Braxton (Fl) 42-7 (12.98); 5. ***Taylor Fingers (LSU) 42-6 (12.95).
SP: 1. Veronica Fraley (Vand) 60-¼ (18.29); 2. Jalani Davis (Ms) 59-10¼ (18.24); 3. ***Akaoma Odeluga (Ms) 59-5 (18.11) (2, 8, AJ); 4. **Alida Van Daalen’ (Fl-Neth) 58-10 (17.93).
DT: 1. Van Daalen’ 202-8 (61.79); 2. Fraley 202-2 (61.62); 3. Estel Valeanu’ (LSU-Isr) 185-10 (56.65); 4. ***Abigail Martin’ (TxAM-Jam) 183-11 (56.06); 5. ***Marley Raikiwasa’ (Aub-Aus) 182-3 (55.54).
HT: 1. Jasmine Mitchell (Ms) 223-3 (68.06); 2. *Stephanie Ratcliffe’ (Ga-Aus) 222-0 (67.68); 3. Davis 219-1 (66.79); 4. ***Kate Powers (Ky) 207-7 (63.27).
JT: 1. *Lianna Davidson’ (TxAM-Aus) 189-11 (57.89); 2. *Katelyn Fairchild (TxAM) 185-9 (56.62); 3. ***Trinity Spooner (LSU) 174-1 (53.06); 4. Erin Zimmerman (Mo) 173-8 (52.94).
Hept: 1. Timara Chapman (TxAM) 6124; 2. Hufnagel 5914; 3. **Ella Rush’ (Ga-GB) 5606; 4. *Kennedy Jackson (MsSt) 5366; 5. Madison Murray (Vand) 5340.