Robert Black

Weeks Fly High, No Lie

Friday Results

NASHVILLE – The No. 2 Arkansas women’s track and field team got off to a great start at the 2017 SEC Indoor Championships in Nashville, placing three student-athletes in the pentathlon and the pole vault on Friday.

The pole vault trio Tori Weeks, Lexi Weeks and Desiree Freier were the first to put points on the board for the team, finishing first, second and eighth (tie), respectively, for a total 18.5 points. Tori Weeks joined her sister Lexi Weeks as a member of the 15-foot club, becoming just the sixth pole vaulter in collegiate history to jump that height. Lexi Weeks also cleared 4.57m/15-0 but finished behind her sister based on attempts at the final bar.

After a grueling morning of competition, Razorback multis Taliyah Brooks, Leigha Brown, and Kelsey Herman followed their fellow field-event counterparts, finishing second, third and fourth, respectively, in the pentathlon. Brooks made her 2017 debut, scoring 4,450 points, ranking her as the second-best performer in the NCAA behind UGA’s Kendell Williams. Brown posted a lifetime-best of 4,379 points which also earned her an NCAA top-three ranking. Already qualified for nationals, Herman completed the trifecta, finishing the day with 4,226 points.

Arkansas capped off the evening with 10 points in the 3,000 off the heels of Taylor Werner and Regan Ward who finished second and seventh, respectively. The duo will double back tomorrow, looking to collect more points for the Razorbacks in the 5,000.

On Deck for Day Two
Arkansas heads into day two with 48.5 points and plenty of scoring opportunities. The Razorback milers will headline Saturday as Therese Haiss, Nikki Hiltz, Maddy Reed, Valerie Reina and Carina Viljoen will all be in the hunt for place in the top-eight.

Daina Harper and Damajahnee Birch will immediately follow the mile crew, taking on the 400. Harper ran a career-best of 51.77 and heads into tomorrow’s final as the top qualifier in the event. Her performance also ranks her as the fourth-best quarter-miler in program history. The Razorbacks will also have two student-athletes in the 800 as Ceara Watson and Alexandra Byrnes earned automatic spots, finishing among the top two in their respective heats. Watson’s time of 2:06.54 was the best of the day.

Arkansas will close off the conference bout tomorrow evening, looking to defend its title in the distance medley relay and post a solid performance in the 4-x-400-meter relay in advance of the national indoor meet.

2017 SEC Indoor Championships | Nashville, Tennessee
Date/Time: Saturday, Feb. 25, 1:55 p.m. CT
Venue: Multipurpose Facility
Tickets: $15 for Adults, $5 for College students and Youth (ages 2-12) via 1-877-448-2639 or at the door
Important Links: Meet Schedule | Saturday Start Lists | Live Results | WatchESPN Day 2

SEC Indoor Championship (Day 1)
February 24, 2017
Multipurpose Facility (Nashville, Tenn.)

Team Scores (thru five events)
1. Arkansas – 48.5
2. Georgia – 25
3. Ole Miss – 24.5
4. Kentucky – 23
5. Alabama – 22
6. Florida – 12
7. Missouri – 11
8. South Carolina – 7
9. Auburn – 6
10. Texas A&M – 6
11. Tennessee – 4
12. LSU – 3
13. Vanderbilt – 3
— Mississippi State

60 Meters
11. Kiara Parker – 7.36
23. Jada Baylark – 7.50

200 Meters
15. Jada Baylark – 23.89
16. Kiara Parker – 23.94

400 Meters
1. Daina Harper – 51.77q
5. Damajahnee Birch – 53.72q
20. Sunkietra McCallister – 54.94
22. Brianna Swinton – 54.97
30. Sydney Hammit – 55.99

800 Meters
1. Ceara Watson – 2:06.54q
6. Alexandra Byrnes – 2:08.54q

Mile Run
2. Nikki Hiltz – 4:41.30q
6. Therese Haiss – 4:45.78q
7. Carina Viljoen – 4:46.01q
8. Valerie Reina – 4:48.37q
10. Maddy Reed – 4:49.27q
16. Sydney Brown – 4:53.96

3,000 Meters
2. Taylor Werner – 9:20.92
7. Regan Ward – 9:28.54

Pole Vault
1. Tori Weeks – 4.57m/15-1
2. Lexi Weeks – 4.57m/15-1
Desiree Freier – 4.15m/13-7 1/4

Long Jump
8. Taliyah Brooks – 6.30m/20-8

Pentathlon
2. Taliyah Brooks – 4,450 points
2. 60mH – 8.14 (1,098 points)
4. High Jump – 1.78m (953)
7. Shot Put – 11.53m (630)
2. Long Jump – 6.40m (975)
9. 800 Meters – 2:22.22 (794)
3. Leigha Brown – 4,379 points
3. 60mH – 8.41 (1,037 points)
5. High Jump – 1.75m (916)
2. Shot Put – 13.05m (731)
4. Long Jump – 5.91m (4)
3. 800 Meters – 2:16.41 (3)
4. Kelsey Herman – 4,226 points
5. 60mH – 8.46 (1,026 points)
3. High Jump – 1.78m (953)
5. Shot Put – 12.00m (661)
6. Long Jump – 5.87m (810)
10. 800 Meters – 2:23.51 (776)
14. Ashlee Moore – 3,592 points
9. 60mH – 8.69 (976 points)
11. High Jump – 1.60m (736)
6. Shot Put – 11.57m (633)
8. Long Jump – 5.75m (774)
15. 800 Meters – 2:49.07 (473)

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