Robert Black

Harper Sets Record En Route To Finals

SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Arkansas senior Daina Harper advanced out of the 400-meter semifinals at the 2017 USATF Outdoor Championships off a program-record breaking performance of 50.71 seconds on Friday evening in Sacramento.

“I am honestly at a loss for words,” Harper said. “I believed in myself and listened to everything my coach has told me. I executed the race and came out with a great result and am excited for tomorrow’s final.”

ProHog Taylor Washington (Ellis-Watson) previously held the Razorback 400-meter record of 50.78 from her 2016 LSU Invitational victory in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Through two rounds of competition, Harper has remained consistently among the top-four fastest quarter-milers at the national meet. She will need to finish among the top-three in tomorrow’s finals to earn an outright spot in the 400 for Team USA. A top-five finish could still earn her a trip to London, England for the 2017 IAAF World Championships as a 4-x-400-meter relay leg or alternate.

Elite middle distance talent Chrishuna Willaims was the only other Hog to see day two action and closed out the evening for Arkansas, qualifying for the 800-meter finals. Williams clocked the fifth-fastest time of the day, 2 minutes, 1.80 seconds to earn an automatic spot in the last round of the event.

On Deck for Tomorrow
Arkansas’ All-American heptathlon trio of Taliyah Brooks, ProHog Alex Gochenour and Payton Stumbaugh will begin combined events competition at 12:45 p.m. All three Razorbacks boast personal bests over 6,000 points.

NCAA silver medalists Nikki Hiltz (1,500) and Jessica Kamilos (steeplechase) will be racing in the finals of their respective events. Arkansas’ young runners Maddy Reed and Taylor Werner will also hit the oval, competing in the 3,000-meter junior finals at 7:49 p.m. CT.

Date/Time: Saturday, June 24, 12:45 p.m. CT| Sunday June 25, 1 p.m. CT
Venue: Sacramento State University (Hornet Stadium)
Important Links: Live Results
Broadcast Schedule: NBC

USATF Outdoor Championships
Day Two Results

400 Meters Semifinals
4. Daina Harper – 50.71 Q

800 Meters Semifinals
9. Chrishuna Williams – 2:01.80 Q

Arkansas USATF Event Schedule
Saturday, June 24
12:45 p.m. – Hept. 100mH (T. Brooks, A. Gochenour, P. Stumbaugh)
2:00 p.m. – Hept. High Jump (T. Brooks, A. Gochenour, P. Stumbaugh)
3:22 p.m. – 400m Finals (D. Harper)
4:00 p.m. – Hept. Shot Put (T. Brooks, A. Gochenour, P. Stumbaugh)
4:12 p.m. – 1,500 Finals (N. Hiltz)
4:24 p.m. – Steeplechase Finals (J. Kamilos)
5:04 p.m. – Hept. 200m (T. Brooks, A. Gochenour, P. Stumbaugh)
7:49 p.m. – 3,000m Jr. Finals (M. Reed, T. Werner)

Sunday, June 25
1:00 p.m. – Hept. Long Jump (T. Brooks, A. Gochenour, P. Stumbaugh)
2:00 p.m. – Hept. Javelin (T. Brooks, A. Gochenour, P. Stumbaugh)
2:00 p.m. – Pole Vault Finals (S. Morris, L. Weeks, T. Weeks)
3:28 p.m. – Hept. 800m (T. Brooks, A. Gochenour, P. Stumbaugh)
4:06 p.m. – 800m Finals (C. Williams)

For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.