Hiltz, Kamilos, Parker, Williams Advance At USAs
DES MOINES, Iowa – In rainy and overcast conditions at Drake Field, the Arkansas Razorbacks, both current and Pro Hogs, competed on the opening day of the USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships.
Nikki Hiltz, fresh off a runner-up finish at the NCAA Championships on June 9th in Eugene, Ore., continues her 2018 outdoor campaign in the 1,500-meters as the senior advanced to the finals of her signature event at the USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships. Hiltz finished third in her heat running a time of 4:15.29Q to grab an auto-Q spot into the final. Hiltz’s time was the No. 19 time in the prelims, a result of a slower, tactical race as well as a downpour that rained down on the athletes over the final 400-meters. Arkansas alum Stephanie Brown was in the field as well, finishing with the seventh-fastest time in the prelims (4:09.25) but failing to advance on time as she finished with the fourth-fastest non-auto-qualifying time.
“When I think about everything I’ve been through this outdoor season I just have so much gratitude for all the people I have in my corner who got me to this point,” said Hiltz. “Especially our athletic trainer Mark Hinton who never gave up on my nagging injury and was determined to get me back doing what I love! I’m so thankful to my coach Lance Harter who never lost faith in me and my abilities, and my countless teammates who always have my back. I truly would not be in the USATF Final without each and every one of these people,” Hiltz finished.
Also moving on to the next round at the USATF Championships was Pro Hog Chrishuna Williams who advanced to the semifinals of the 800-meters. Williams finished with a time of 2:04.05q taking fifth-place in her heat, sixteenth overall, to grab the final spot through to the semifinals.
Pro Hog Jessica Kamilos earned her spot in the final of the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase with her time of 9:50.94q that was the fastest time-qualifier from the preliminary round, finishing seventh overall.
Kiara Parker punched her ticket to the semifinals of the 100-meters grabbing an auto-Q spot with a third-place finish in her heat running 11.16 seconds, just .03 off her lifetime-best of 11.13 set at the SEC Outdoor Championships this past May.
“To advance to the semis here means the world,” said Parker. “I never would’ve thought I would even be running here, so being able to survive and advance makes it all so much sweeter.”
Also competing on day one of the USATF meet were Razorback alum Diana Harper in the 400-meters (55.18), and sophomore Jayda Baylark in the 100-meters (11.34).
Arkansas will continue competition at the USATF Outdoor Track & Field Championships tomorrow starting at 3:50 p.m. with the prelims of the 100-meter hurdles.
For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.
