FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FRIDAY, MAY 7, 2021 – COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT: Shawn Price

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

Online Version: https://bit.ly/33mUC18

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Razorbacks produced solid marks during the Arkansas Twilight despite inclement weather which included hail and a lightning delay amid rain showers during Friday’s action at John McDonnell Field.

“I thought our headliners was shared between Daszay Freeman in the hurdles, with both races in difficult conditions, but she ended up setting the meet record, and G’Auna Ewards, who had a solid long jump and then ran two good hurdle races as well,” said Arkansas women’s head coach Lance Harter. “I think that was a good prep for next week’s multi in the conference meet.”

In addition to victories in six events, the Razorbacks swept the top two positions in three events.

A 1-2-3 sweep occurred in the 400m with Shafiqua Maloney clocking 52.39 for the victory as Morgan Burks-Magee (52.78) and Paris Peoples (53.32) followed.

Katie Izzo and Lauren Gregory went 1-2 in the 1,500m. Izzo broke the meet record as she produced a career best of 4:16.64 while Gregory followed in 4:18.26. The previous meet record of 4:19.58 was set in 2014 by Oklahoma State’s Monika Juodeskaite.

“Katie runs a lifetime best to win the 1,500 in 4:16 while Lauren runs 4:18. It’s amazing what Lauren does when she hasn’t been racing recently. Those are all good preparations for ultimately trying to defend our title at the SEC meet.”

Daszay Freeman clocked a 13.01 (1.1 wind) meet record to claim the 100m hurdles after posting a wind-aided 12.94 in the prelims. Freeman bettered the meet record of 13.20 set by Razorback Ivanique Kemp set in 2012.

Sharika Nelvis ran 13.08 as runner-up to Freeman in the final while G’Auna Edwards placed third in 13.47 and Jayla Hollis finished fourth with a 13.64.

In the prelims Yoveinny Mota ran a wind-aided 13.00 (3.4 wind) to win her heat but didn’t race in the final. Arkansas alum Taliyah Brooks led the prelims with a wind-aided 12.82 (2.7 wind) but had to stop in the final midway through the race.

Earlier in the meet Brooks won the long jump with a big mark of 22-5 ¼w (6.84) that was aided by a 3.0 wind. Sydney Conley’s windy 21-2 (6.45) placed second while Edwards was the top collegian with a 20-8 ½w (6.31) to finish third.

The best wind-legal mark in the series for Brooks measured 21-7 ¼ (6.58) while had a 20-4 ¼ (6.20). 

Tiana Wilson sped to a wind-aided 11.19 win in the 100m with Jada Baylark third in 11.28. Krissy Gear cruised to a 2:06.90 winning time in the 800m over a 2:08.15 for Oklahoma State’s Maddie Salek.

A field of six Razorbacks scheduled for the pole vault was whittled down to just a pair after the lightning delay. Bailey McCorkle cleared 12-8 ¾ (3.88) for the win with Grace Ridgeway runner-up with a 12-0 ¼ (3.68) clearance.

After clearing her opening bar on a second attempt, McCorkle passed the next two heights and had three attempts at 14-0 (4.27).

Behind Izzo and Gregory in the 1,500m the Razorbacks depth included Meghan Underwood (4:27.52) and Maddy Reed (4:31.68) finishing fifth and sixth while the combo of Josie Carson (4:40.57) and Adoette Vaughan (4:41.24) placed 11th and 12th, with Vaughan winning the first section.

Arkansas alum Sparkle McKnight claimed her third consecutive 400m hurdle win this season with a 56.82 as she edged the 56.93 by Nnenya Hailey with lean at the finish line.