UA’s Gear wins in home state

University of Arkansas junior distance runner Krissy Gear had a happy homecoming in Florida on Friday night.

Gear, from Fort Myers, won the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a personal-best 9 minutes, 45.10 seconds at Florida’s Tom Jones Memorial Invitational in Gainesville.

The No. 5-ranked Arkansas women also got victories in the 5,000 from Katie Izzo (16:05.61) and Devin Clark in the 10,000 (33:46.90).

The Arkansas men’s team got victories from Andrew Kibet, who in his first steeplechase won in 8:53.12, and Etamar Bhastekar, who claimed the pole vault title by clearing 17 feet, 73/4 inches.

The Razorbacks took the top three spots in the steeplechase with Emmanuel Cheboson (9:02.37) and Carter Persyn (9:07.54) second and third.

Kennedy Thomson took second in the women’s 1,500 in an SEC-leading time of 4:12.38 behind Florida State’s Maudie Skyring, who won in a national-leading 4:11.43.

Gracie Hyde, from Jonesboro, took second in the steeplechase for the Razorbacks in 9:57.88, and Arkansas got third, fourth and fifth in the 1,500 from Carina Viljoen (4:14.36), Abby Gray (4:15.80) and Logan Morris (4:17.73).

Jada Baylark, from Little Rock Parkview, took fourth in the 200 in 23.56.

In men’s competition, Arkansas’ Nick Hilson was third in the 400 hurdles (51.09) and Jalen Brown fourth in the 200 (21.01).