UA women sprinters tipping historic scales in 400 meters
FAYETTEVILLE — The collegiate record list for the top times in the women’s 400 meters reads like a University of Arkansas roster.
Arkansas has four of the top five collegiate marks all-time in the 400 after a 1-2-3 finish by senior Nickisha Pryce, freshman Kaylyn Brown and senior Amber Anning at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Florida’s Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.
Pryce won in 49.32 followed by Brown (49.47) and Anning (49.51). Arkansas senior Rosey Effiong (50.57) took fifth.
Former Razorback Britton Wilson holds the collegiate record at 49.13 she ran last year’s SEC Championships.
Wilson is followed on the all-time list by former Texas standout Rhasidat Adeleke (49.20), Pryce, Brown and Anning.
“It kind of leaves you awestruck,” Arkansas Coach Chris Johnson said of the Razorbacks’ rankings in the 400. “Obviously you hope and dream for it, and you know they’re capable of it.
“But doing it on that day in this atmosphere [at the SEC meet], it’s quite difficult.
“These young ladies are special, they’re running well.”
Pryce and Anning also took seventh and eighth in the 200 to help the Razorbacks score 110 points and finish second to LSU, which won with 126.
Arkansas was going for a second consecutive conference title outdoors after sweeping SEC and NCAA titles indoors earlier this year.
“Obviously we performed well,” Johnson said. “This is a tough conference, and LSU is a fantastic team.
“In some events we did well, extremely well. In some events we missed the mark. That’s a part of competition and a part of being in a very tough conference.
“We’re disappointed we couldn’t
pull off another win, but that comes with the territory. I think we’ll learn from this championship and figure out a way to get better going into the regional meet.”
Brown became the fastest U.S. 19-year-old ever. She just missed the 19-year-old world record in the 400 of 49.42 run by Germany’s Grit Breuer at the 1991 World Championships.
“This young lady is special,” Johnson said of Brown. “She’s bought in. She’s gotten better.
“She’s had her little nicks here and there, but she’s continued to be persistent and work hard. Work hard on her treatment, work hard in the weight room.
“She’s growing, so there’s more to come there, and we’re very proud of her.
“But there’s a lot more to go, and we’re looking forward to her staying healthy and competing at the highest levels.”
The Razorbacks scored in 13 events, including freshman Paityn Poe taking second in the 10,000 and third in the 5,000.
“I think the coaching staff did a fantastic job,” Johnson said. “They got the kids prepared.
“We were deep in some areas, and thin in some other areas, and obviously we’ve got to take a look at that and see what we can do to be better. We’ll figure those things out.”