Red Raider Open field offers early challenge for Razorbacks

LUBBOCK, Texas – Razorback sprinters, hurdlers, and vaulters will be in action on Friday, competing among a challenging field in the Red Raider Open hosted by Texas Tech in the Sports Performance Center. A live stream of the meet will be available on ESPN+, starting at 10 a.m. CT.

Teams scheduled to compete in the Red Raider Open include Abilene Christian, Arkansas, Barton CC, Houston, Kentucky, LSU, New Mexico JC, Oklahoma State, SMU, South Plains College, Texas Southern, Texas Tech, Texas, USC, and Western Texas.

Running events begin at 10:15 a.m. with field events starting at 10:30 a.m. Live results: https://live.pttiming.com/?mid=4749. Live stream on ESPN+: https://es.pn/3GPgEvp.

“The competition is here in every event that we’re looking to get something done in,” Arkansas women’s associate head coach Chris Johnson said. “So, it’s just about going out there and executing and kind of see where you’re at in comparison to others.

“Competing on the road is another level of preparation for conference and nationals. You need to get out of the building and see some other venues, to compete in an uncomfortable environment, which just means you are not at home. This is a great opportunity to make those adjustments, just in terms of how you conduct yourself and line up and compete.”

Arkansas’ six-person vault crew begins competition at 11 a.m. and includes Nastassja Campbell, who equaled her indoor career best of 14-3.25 (4.35) last week, Mackenzie Hayward, Bailee McCorkle, Kaitlyn Banas, Elien Vekemans, and Amanda Fassold.

Vaulters in the field who have cleared heights over 14 feet this indoor season include Campbell and Vekemans (14-1.25|4.30) along with Chloe Wall of Texas Tech (14-0.5|4.28).

Also competing in field events for the Razorbacks are Sydney Billington, runner-up twice in the high jump this season, and Alexis Torns, who set a career best in the triple jump during the Arkansas Invitational.

Jada Baylark, who won the 60m in 7.29 last week after a 7.25 performance in December, will race in the 60m and 200m. Joining Baylark in the 200m are Ashanti Denton, Joanne Reid and Torns.

Baylark produced a career best of 7.15 last season to equal the Arkansas school record. She will face a 60m field which includes Abby Steiner of Kentucky (7.21 PR in 2021), who produced a 22.58 in the 200m last weekend, the LSU tandem of Favour Ofili (7.25) and Thelma Davies (7.40, 7.23 PR), as well as the Texas pair of Julien Alfred (7.10 PR in 2020) and Kevona Davis (7.31, 7.25 PR).

The 200m features Baylark and Reid in the faster sections along with Kentucky’s Dajour Miles, LSU’s Amber Anning, Texas duo of Davis and Kynnedy Flannel, and USC’s pair of Bailey Lear and Lanae-Tava Thomas.

Competing in the 60m hurdles for Arkansas are Daszay Freeman, Jayla Hollis, and Yoveinny Mota. A Razorback foursome in the 400m includes Morgan Burks-Magee, Rosey Effiong, Paris Peoples, and Britton Wilson.

Kentucky’s Masai Russell opened with an 8.01 in the 60m hurdles last weekend, while Longhorns Milan Young and Emelia Chatfield posted times of 8.14 and 8.19 at Clemson. LSU’s Alia Armstrong posted an 8.18 while Naomi Taylor of Houston clocked 8.19, each at their home track.

In the 400m, Wilson (53.64) and Peoples (53.87) currently rank fourth and fifth on the 2022 indoor collegiate list while Effiong and Burks-Magee make their season debut in the event.

Others in the 400m field running the event for the first time this season include Stacy Ann Williams and Kennedy Simon of Texas, USC’s Bailey Lear, and Megan Moss of Kentucky. These athletes along with the Arkansas trio of Burks-Magee, Effiong, and Peoples, produced seven of the top 13 times during the 2021 indoor season.

After placing second in the 800m last week, Quinn Owen moves up to the mile this week where she has a career best of 4:44.96 from last year’s Tyson Invitational.

Arkansas is also scheduled to have three 4×400 relay squads compete. The Razorbacks are the current 2022 world leader with a 3:30.79 meet record victory last week and have the fourth fastest time this season at 3:33.98 with a second group of Hogs who were runner-up in the Arkansas Invitational.

Times from this season currently have Kentucky (3:33.02), Texas (3:36.18) and Texas Tech (3:39.83) ranked second, sixth, and 13th.

“We’re prepared to go out here and compete with some of the nation’s best,” Johnson noted. “We have Kentucky here along with Texas, USC, LSU, and host Texas Tech. It’s going to provide an environment that’s competitive and allow us to see where we’re at in this part of the season. We’re very excited and feel blessed to be here and be healthy.”