Armstrong matches 7.86 effort achieved by former teammate Marshall, along with Florida sophomore Stark; Oregon 60-meter dash champions Nelson, Williams win in returns to Randal Tyson Track, Feldmeier runs top 800 in world

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Alia Armstrong arrived at the Razorback Invitational with only a pair of 60-meter hurdles performances in her career under the 8-second barrier and ranked just outside the top 25 all-time collegiate indoor competitors.

In a span of less than two hours, the LSU standout not only delivered back-to-back sub-8 efforts, but elevated to a top-five hurdler in NCAA Division 1 indoor history and a legitimate contender for this year’s title.

Armstrong dominated the 60 hurdles final, running away from a quality field to prevail in 7.86 seconds at Randal Tyson Track Center, matching former LSU teammate Tonea Marshall and Florida sophomore Grace Stark as the No. 3 all-time collegiate performer and equal to No. 22 in American indoor history.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

Armstrong ran 7.99 in the prelims and equaled Stark as the No. 4 competitor in the world this season in the final. Stark ran 7.86 on Jan. 14 at the Clemson Invitational.

Mississippi State freshman Rosealee Cooper was runner-up in a personal-best 8.12 and Armstrong’s teammate Leah Phillips also recorded a lifetime-best 8.14 to take sixth.

Micah Williams and Kemba Nelson of Oregon, the reigning NCAA Division 1 indoor 60-meter champions from last year’s final at the same venue, both prevailed in their return to Randal Tyson Track Center.

Williams clocked 6.48, equaling his own No. 2 global performance from Jan. 15 at the Cougar Classic at The Podium in Spokane, Wash.

Nelson ran 7.16 to equal the No. 6 performance in the world this year.

Oklahoma State followed its men’s distance medley relay victory Friday with a pair of impressive individual performances Saturday, with Alex Maier elevating the No. 3 collegiate indoor 3,000-meter competitor by winning his section in 7:46.61.

Stanford’s Cole Sprout (7:49.26) took second in his section behind former Virginia Tech All-American and Under Armour Dark Sky Distance professional Neil Gourley (7:48.94), but ascended to the No. 5 collegiate indoor performer this season.

Taylor Roe began the final section of the women’s mile in last place, but the Oklahoma State standout rallied to pass Arkansas’ Lauren Gregory in the last 100 meters to secure a victory by a 4:34.35 to 4:35.10 margin, with the athletes posting the Nos. 4 and 6 performances in the NCAA this year.

Iowa State’s Cailie Logue triumphed in the women’s 3,000 in 9:03.49, holding off Oklahoma State’s Gabby Hentemann (9:04.34) to achieve the Nos. 10 and 11 collegiate marks this season.

Elias Schreml, a German athlete making his indoor mile debut for Arkansas, clocked 3:57.85 to produce the No. 17 collegiate mark this year, placing runner-up to adidas athlete and British professional Charlie Grice (3:57.39).

Stanford freshman John Lester surged in the final 50 meters to win the men’s 800 in 1:48.90, just ahead of Arkansas’ Kieran Taylor (1:48.93). Lester elevated to the No. 12 collegiate competitor, with Taylor at No. 13.

Arkansas junior Quinn Owen equaled the No. 2 collegiate mark by clocking 2:04.03 in the women’s 800, taking second to adidas professional Brooke Feldmeier, who took over the world lead by running 2:00.92.

Morgan Burks Magee led an Arkansas sweep of the top four spots in the women’s 400, elevating to the No. 3 collegiate competitor this season by clocking 52.06, then leading off a meet-record 3:29.38 from the Razorbacks in the 4x400 relay, anchored by Rosey Effiong with a 51.61 split.

Georgia held off USC in a thrilling men’s 4x400 showdown by a 3:04.07 to 3:04.86 margin, achieving the Nos. 3 and 4 collegiate performances this year.

Iowa freshman Jenoah McKiver enjoyed a significant personal-best 45.78 in the men’s 400, ascending to the No. 2 collegiate competitor this season, then anchoring the Hawkeyes with a 45.11 split to take third in the 4x400 in 3:05.68.

LSU junior Eric Edwards, Jr. won the men’s 60-meter hurdles in 7.68.

Missouri swept both triple jump competitions, with Georgi Nachev producing consecutive 53-5 (16.28m) efforts in the fourth and fifth rounds to knock off reigning Division 1 indoor and outdoor champion Emmanuel Ihemeje of Oregon, who had a 52-foot performance (15.85m).

Arianna Fisher achieved a personal-best 44-4.25 (13.52m) in the fourth round to prevail in the women’s triple jump.

Arkansas redshirt athlete Amanda Fassold outlasted Oklahoma State’s Ariadni Adamopoulou in the women’s pole vault on the third sudden-death height after both athletes cleared 14-2.50 (4.33m). Fassold cleared 14-0.50 (4.28m) to earn the tiebreaker.

Ana da Silva of Georgia won the women’s shot put with an opening-round mark of 54-1.75 (16.50m) and Mississippi State’s Jabari Bennett edged LSU’s John Meyer by a 63-7.75 (19.40m) to 63-6.75 (19.37m) margin in the men’s shot put competition.