FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – SUNDAY, APRIL 25, 2021 – COMMUNICATIONS CONTACT: Shawn Price

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S TRACK & FIELD

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

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – A fantastic day greeted 991 spectators during Sunday’s portion of the John McDonnell Invitational as they witnessed a meet record among the five victories earned by the Razorbacks.

“It was a great weekend and a great move to dodge mother nature on Friday and make this meet a Saturday-Sunday event,” stated Arkansas women’s head coach Lance Harter. “The hurdlers started the show today in the prelims, and the progressions they are making is absolutely phenomenal. Those were fantastic times.”

Tiana Wilson claimed the 400m in a meet record of 51.71 with teammate Shafiqua Maloney runner-up in 52.27. Wilson is currently seventh among collegians this season and moves to equal No. 6 on the UA all-time list. She bettered the meet record of 52.05 set by Regina George in 2012.

“With Tiana, you just throw her in a race and she just takes care of the challenge,” noted Harter. “She ran one of the faster 400m times in the nation this year. It was a fantastic race for her and a huge PR.”

During the indoor season Wilson improved to 52.02 in the 400m, but her outdoor best coming into this season was 54.05 from 2019.

Opening the day with a 4x100 relay victory in 44.37, the Arkansas foursome of Yoveinny Mota, Wilson, Jayla Hollis and Jada Baylark bettered the field by a full second as Kansas was runner-up in 45.37.

Mota added a victory in the 100m hurdles with a wind-aided 12.91 (2.8 wind) as she edged out teammate Daszay Freeman, who clocked 12.92, while Hollis completed the 1-2-3 sweep in 13.26.

During the prelims of the hurdles, all three produced stellar times in winning their respective heats. Mota posted a 12.98 (2.8 wind) while Freeman ran 13.05 (3.9) and Hollis had a 13.14 (2.5).

Baylark won the 100m in 11.26w (2.4 wind) over an 11.52 by Ajah Criner of Central Arkansas.

G’Auna Edwards claimed the long jump with a wind-aided 21-4 ¼ (6.51) and added windy marks of 21-4 (6.50) and 21-0 ½ (6.41) in her series. She opened the competition with a wind-legal mark of 20-11 ¾ (6.39).

Krissy Gear finished as the top collegian in the 800m with a career best time of 2:04.39 that places her No. 9 on the UA all-time list. Joining her with career bests in the race were Paris Peoples (2:06.85) and Carina Viljoen (2:07.26). Completing a 2-6 finish for Arkansas were Isabel Van Camp (2:09.34) and Quinn Owen (2:10.23).

Shamier Little, making her debut in the event, won the race in 2:04.39 after splitting 57.71 at 400m. Little, a world silver medalist in the 400m hurdles who has posted a career best of 49.91 in the 400m this season, trains in Fayetteville with Razorback assistant coach Chris Johnson.