FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2021 – COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT: Shawn Price

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Online Version: https://bit.ly/3h4hokX

EUGENE, Ore. – Clocking three times this weekend that were better than her previous career best earned Arkansas alum Payton Chadwick a place in the Olympic Trials 100m hurdles final as she finished seventh in 12.66 seconds at Hayward Field on Sunday evening.

Entering the Olympic Trials with a career best of 12.70 from 2019, Chadwick improved to 12.66 in the first round of the 100m hurdles held on Saturday. Then an improvement to 12.64 for third in Sunday’s semifinal earned her an automatic spot in the final.

Chadwick became the first hurdler with connections to Arkansas to reach an U.S. Olympic Trials 100m hurdle final. The previous best finish prior to this weekend was GiGi Johnson, who reached the semifinal during the 2008 Olympic Trials.

Taliyah Brooks joined Chadwick in the 100m hurdle semifinal after producing her own career best of 12.61 to win a first round heat and improve her previous best of 12.70 set earlier this season.

In the semifinal, Brooks matched her previous best of 12.70 despite hitting a few hurdles along the way, but finished sixth in the heat and 11th overall. The last time qualifier for the final was 12.65.

Also racing on Sunday in the 3,000m steeplechase was Razorback Krissy Gear, competing in her second event of these Olympic Trials. Gear posted a time of 9:47.59 to place eighth in her heat and 16th overall. The final time qualifier to advance was 9:38.61.

Monday’s action at the Olympic Trials will have Nikki Hiltz racing in the final of the 1,500m at 5:05 p.m. PT (7:05 CT).