Jayda Baylark at the Texas Relays achieved a time of 10.83w (+2.8 wind) as the runner-up in the 100m final.
by Shawn Price
AUSTIN, Texas – Saturday at the Texas Relays is known for speed, and when combined with an aiding wind in the sprints and hurdles there can be some spectacular times on display at Mike A. Myers Stadium.
The 94th version of the Texas Relays did not disappoint in that regard and the Razorbacks had a hand in supplying the speed.
Jada Baylark produced the sixth fastest time on the all-conditions collegiate all-time list with a stellar time of 10.83w (+2.8 wind) as the runner-up in the 100m final. USC’s Ceiera Barnes won the race in 10.82, the fifth fastest time under all-conditions by a collegian.
“It was a big run, as always, coming from Jada,” stated Arkansas associate head coach Chris Johnson. “This time and in this meet, for whatever reason, she was very poised. She went through her phases and executed.
“When you watch the race there is really no struggle, even when the USC sprinter ran side by side for about 40 meters. She stayed relaxed and calm, executing the race perfectly. Jada is a phenomenal athlete, and even a better person. She’s among elite company for sure, but I think she’s an elite-level athlete.
Barnes and Baylark also generated the fastest collegiate times ever in the month of March and they rank second and third globally with all-conditions times in March.
Some noteworthy names that Baylark and Barnes moved ahead of on the all-conditions all-time list includes Aleia Hobbs (10.85, LSU), Gail Devers (10.86w, UCLA), Tamara Clark (10.87w, Alabama), Jasmine Todd (10.88w, Oregon).
In the 100m hurdles, the Razorback duo of Yoveinny Mota and Jayla Hollis tied for sixth place at 12.98w as they both were timed at 12.980 with an aiding wind of 2.5 mps. LSU’s Alia Armstrong produced the fastest collegian time ever under all-conditions with a world-class 12.33 for the victory.
Racing in the Invitational 100m hurdles, Christina Clemons finished as runner-up in 12.45w behind a 12.32w for world record holder Keni Harrison with an aiding wind of 3.9 mps. Clemons, who trains in Fayetteville, edged out Tonea Marshall (12.45) by 0.004 of a second.
Relay action for Arkansas included placing third in the 4x400 Invitational, fifth in the 4x100, and fifth in another section of the 4x400 relay.
The Razorback foursome of Paris Peoples, Rosey Effiong, Jayla Hollis, and Britton Wilson clocked 3:26.40 behind Texas (3:22.94) and Texas A&M (3:23.30), who generated the second and fourth fastest times on the all-time collegiate list in threatening the collegiate record of 3:22.34 set last year by the Aggies.
The elite times were supplied by a combination of three sub 50-second splits. Wilson anchored Arkansas in 49.99 while Texas anchor Stacy Ann Williams split 49.87. Texas A&M’s Charokee Young, running third leg, supplied a 48.98 split.
Finishing behind Arkansas were LSU (3:31.66), Baylor (3:32.05), and Duke (3:37.73).
A crew of Rosey Effiong, Jada Baylark, Jayla Hollis, and Joann Reid ran 43.87 in the 4x100 relay after posting a 44.00 with the same line-up in the prelims.
Texas, who broke the meet record with a 42.42 in the prelims, claimed the final in 42.83 over LSU (42.97) and Texas Tech (43.11). Baylor (43.85) just edged out Arkansas for fourth place while USC (44.00) finished sixth.
On the second 4x400, Arkansas’ line-up of Ashanti Denton, Jada Baylark, Joanne Reid, and Quinn Owen ran 3:38.02.
Competition in San Marcos, at the Texas State Bobcat Classic had Alexis Torns finishing third in triple jump with a leap of 41-1.5 (12.53), which ranks No. 7 on the UA all-time list. Sydney Billington cleared 5-7 (1.70) to place fourth in the high jump.