Irwin 6th in Olympic Trials pole vault final

EUGENE, Ore. – Arkansas alum Andrew Irwin produced a season best of 18-10.25 (5.75) in placing sixth among a field of 12 at the U.S. Olympic Trials during the fourth day of competition at Hayward Field, which saw temperatures reach into the mid-90s during the Monday afternoon competition.

With the sixth-place performance, Irwin generated the best finish in the pole vault at an U.S. Olympic Trials by a vaulter affiliated with the University of Arkansas. Back in 2012 at the Olympic Trials, Irwin had a no height during the qualification day. Mark Klee had the same result in 1984.

A strong start had Irwin clearing his first four bars on first attempts, starting at the opening height of 17-10.5 (5.45) and moving along to 18-4.5 (5.60), 18-8.5 (5.70), and 18-10.25 (5.75). A couple of those heights included a bit of jostling, but the bar remained on the pegs to count as a clearance.

Then Irwin’s attempts at 19-0.25 (5.80) resulted in three misses.

Sporting an outdoor career best of 19-0.25 as well as an indoor best of 19-3.5 (5.88), Irwin was a solid contender for a top-three finish. Twice this season he cleared 18-8.5 as a previous best before today.

Chris Nilsen won the title with a height of 19-4.25 (5.90), while there was a tie for the runner-up position at 19-2.25 (5.85) between Sam Kendricks and KC Lightfoot. Matt Ludwig and Jacob Wooten both cleared 19-0.25 (5.80) in placing fourth and fifth, respectively.

The next two days are rest days at the U.S. Olympic Trials. Competition resumes on Thursday with Nicholas Hilson competing in the first round of the 400m hurdles.

Chadwick finishes 7th in 100 hurdles Olympic Trials final

EUGENE, Ore. –

Clocking three times this weekend that were better than her previous career best earned Arkansas alum Payton Chadwick a place in the Olympic Trials 100-meter hurdles final as she finished seventh in 12.66 seconds at Hayward Field on Sunday evening.

Entering the Olympic Trials with a career best of 12.70 from 2019, Chadwick improved to 12.66 in the first round of the 100m hurdles held on Saturday. Then an

improvement to 12.64 for third in Sunday’s semifinal earned her an automatic spot in the final.

Chadwick became the first hurdler with connections to Arkansas to reach an U.S. Olympic Trials 100m hurdle final. The previous best finish prior to this weekend was Gigi Johnson, who reached the semifinal during the 2008 Olympic Trials.

Taliyah Brooks joined Chadwick in the 100m hurdle semifinal after producing her own career best of 12.61 to win a first round heat and improve her previous best of 12.70 set earlier this season.

In the semifinal, Brooks matched her previous best of 12.70 despite hitting a few hurdles along the way, but finished sixth in the heat and 11th overall. The last time qualifier for the final was 12.65.

Also racing on Sunday in the 3,000m steeplechase was Razorback Krissy Gear, competing in her second event of these Olympic Trials. Gear posted a time of 9:47.59 to place eighth in her heat and 16th overall. The final time qualifier to advance was 9:38.61.