Brooks And Brown Lead Razorback Charge
COLLEGE STATION – The No. 2 Arkansas women’s track and field team opened up the 2017 NCAA Indoor Championships on Friday afternoon in College Station with a pair of podium finishes from multis Taliyah Brooks and Leigha Brown.
Brooks and Brown, placed second and fifth, respectively, in the pentathlon, helping Arkansas to kick off its team-title charge. A national runner-up in the event in 2016 Brooks marched right back into the top ranks with PRs in three out of the five events, including the 60-meter hurdles (8.13), high jump (1.84m/6-0 1/2) and long jump (6.48m/21-3 1/4).
“I ran a PR in the hurdles by one hundredths of a second; I hit the last hurdle so I was hoping to run faster than that but it was still a good race,” Brooks said. “I came back in high jump well. I’ve been working with coach Compton on going up and not going into the bar so that really showed today and I am proud of that.”
Although Brooks finished the event without a national title the Wichita Falls, Texas native earned her third program record (indoor and outdoor long jump), eclipsing former NCAA record-holder Makeba Alcide’s 2013 pentathlon best of 4,569 points with a final total of 4,580 points. Brooks closed out the night narrowly missing another scoring opportunity as ninth-best performer in the open long jump.
Day Two Qualifiers
All-American middle-distance runners Therese Haiss and Nikki Hiltz were the first two Razorbacks to advance through to the finals in their event with the seventh and ninth best performances in the mile, respectively. Both racing out of the second heat Haiss and Hiltz knew what time they needed to beat to secure their spots for Saturday. Aware that the race was off to a non-competitive pace Haiss took charge of her own destiny, leaving the pack in search of an automatic qualifier as a top-four finisher in the heat. Hiltz followed and both were rewarded for their efforts as two of 10 runners who will get a chance to contend for a gold medal in the mile tomorrow afternoon.
SEC 400-meter champion Daina Harper also moved through to the finals in her signature event, clocking the fourth-fastest time of the day over the two-lap race with 52.31. Harper will race out of lane six in the first section of the 400 tomorrow at 4:40 p.m. CT.
Arkansas’ final chances to score at the indoor championships will come from the 3,000-meter run, pole vault and 4-x-400-meter relay. SEC 5,000-meter champion Taylor Werner will look to race past her No. 11 rank in the 3,000 and pick up some points for the Razorbacks. Arkansas can also expect exceptional performances across the board from three of the nation’s best pole vaulters in Desiree Freier, Lexi Weeks and Tori Weeks.
Arkansas heads into day two in third position with 12 points. The Razorbacks 2017 indoor campaign will come to a close following the completion of the 4-x-400-meter relay which is sure to see Harper reprise her role as Arkansas’ go-to quarter-miler this season.
2017 NCAA Indoor Championships | College Station, Texas
Date/Time: Saturday, March 11, 4 p.m. CT
Venue: Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium
Tickets: $26 for Adults, $20 Youth (ages 2-12) Buy Here
Important Links: Meet Schedule | Start Lists | Live Results | WatchESPN Day 2
Scoring Opportunities – Saturday (8)
• 4:00 p.m. Pole Vault: Lexi Weeks (SB: 4.60m/15-1) | Tori Weeks (SB: 4.57m/15-0) | Desiree Freier (SB: 4.35m/14-3 1/4)
• 4:00 p.m. Mile: Nikki Hiltz (SB: 4:35.10) | Therese Haiss (SB: 4:37.27)
• 4:40 p.m. 400 Meters: Daina Harper (SB: 51.77)
• 6:00 p.m. 3,000 Meters: Taylor Werner (SB: 9:06.34)
• 6:30 p.m. 4-x-400-Meter Relay (SB: 3:32.27)
NCAA Indoor Championship (Day 1)
March 10, 2017
Gilliam Indoor Track Stadium (College Station, Texas)
Team Scores (Top 10)
1. Georgia – 41
2. Alabama – 16
3. Arkansas – 12
3. Michigan – 12
5. Ole Miss – 11
6. Colorado – 10
6. Missouri – 10
6. Kentucky – 10
9. Stanford – 8
9. Kent State – 8
9. Kansas State – 8
400 Meters Semifinals
4. Daina Harper – 52.31q
Mile Semifinals
7. Therese Haiss – 4:38.53q
9. Nikki Hiltz – 4:38.90q
Distance Medley Relay
11. Ward, Birch, Watson, Werner – 11:10.41
Long Jump
9. Taliyah Brooks – 6.33m/20-9 1/4
Pentathlon
2. Taliyah Brooks – 4,580 points
2. 60mH – 8.13 (1100 points)
3. High Jump – 1.84m/6-0 1/2 (1,029)
11. Shot Put – 11.97m/39-3 1/4 (659)
1. Long Jump – 6.48m/21-3 1/4 (1,001)
10. 800m – 2:22.39 (791)
5. Leigha Brown – 4,216 points
9. 60mH – 8.48 (1,021 points)
7. High Jump – 1.72m/5-7 1/4 (879)
6. Shot Put – 12.45m/40-10 1/4 (691)
15. Long Jump – 5.61m/18-5 (732)
2. 800m – 2:15.00 (893)
9. Kelsey Herman – 4,139 points
5. 60mH – 8.34 (1,052 points)
6. High Jump – 1.78m/5-8 1/4 (916)
12. Shot Put – 11.92m/39-1 1/4 (656)
4. Long Jump – 6.06m/19-10 3/4 (868)
16. 800m – 2:33.68 (647)
For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.
