Ducks lower 2017 program record with 10:47.50 effort, pull closer to collegiate record of 10:46.62 achieved last year by Washington; Jones elevates to No. 10 all-time NCAA pentathlon competitor with 4,528 points, Beckford clears 7-5.25 (2.27m) in high jump

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Photo courtesy of Oregon

For more than six years, the Oregon program record in the women’s distance medley relay was also the gold standard in collegiate track and field.

That was, until Washington surpassed that performance last year by producing a new collegiate record of 10 minutes, 46.62 seconds at the Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invitational at Boston University.

But the Ducks took a significant step Friday toward possibly regaining the collegiate all-time mark, eclipsing the school record with Klaudia Kazimierska, Ella Clayton, Ella Nelson and Maddy Elmore running 10:47.50 to prevail against host Arkansas at the Razorback Invitational at Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville.

Oregon improved on the 10:48.77 effort achieved in 2017 by Lilli Burdon, Ashante Horsley, Raevyn Rogers and Katie Rainsberger.

The Ducks also ran 10:49.07 last year and now boast three of the top four women’s DMR performances in collegiate indoor history.

Tiana LoStracco, Ashanti Denton, Ainsley Erzen and Mary Ellen Eudaly ran 10:49.41 for Arkansas, which just missed its own program record of 10:49.14 from last year, making the Razorbacks the No. 3 program in collegiate history.

Florida took third in 10:52.06 to produce a new school record and elevate to the No. 10 all-time collegiate program.

USC’s Allie Jones ascended to the No. 10 pentathlon performer in collegiate history with 4,528 points.

Jones clocked 8.20 in the 60-meter hurdles, cleared 5-6.50 (1.69m) in the high jump, had a mark of 43-3 (13.18m) in the shot put, achieved a leap of 20-5.75 (6.24m) in the long jump and ran 2:11.74 in the 800.

Oklahoma’s Pippi Lotta Enok, representing Estonia, was second with 4,281 points and Kentucky’s Charity Hufnagel took third at 4,218 points.

Arkansas’ Romaine Beckford, a Jamaican standout who won the NCAA Division 1 indoor high jump title last year competing for South Florida, cleared an indoor-best 7-5.25 (2.27m) on his second attempt to secure victory.

Georgia’s Elena Kulichenko, representing Cyprus, won the women’s high jump with a 6-1.25 (1.86m) clearance.

Janeah Stewart, a two-time U.S. indoor weight throw champion, triumphed with a 78-5 (23.90m) effort, finishing ahead of Ole Miss teammates Jalani Davis at 78-0.75 (23.79m) and Jasmine Mitchell at 77-10.75 (23.74m).

Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan, an Ole Miss sophomore, prevailed in the men’s weight throw with a 73-10 (22.50m) performance.

Florida’s Malcolm Clemons earned the win in the men’s long jump with a 26-5.50 (8.06m) effort.

Tara Davis-Woodhall was victorious in the women’s long jump at 22-2.25 (6.76m).

Florida’s Claire Bryant needed two tiebreakers to secure second against Arkansas’ Nia Robinson after both athletes had marks of 21-6.25 (6.56m) in the sixth round. Bryant and Robinson also both produced jumps of 21-4.25 (6.51m) in the third round, with Bryant getting the nod based on a fourth-round performance of 21-2.75 (6.47m).

South Carolina freshman JaMeesia Ford won the women’s 200 meters by a 22.58 to 22.60 margin against Arkansas’ Amber Anning.

Vernon Norwood achieved the victory in the men’s 200 in 20.92.

Texas A&M’s Heather Abadie cleared 14-4.50 (4.38m) to win the women’s pole vault, with Morgann LeLeux Romero taking second based on fewer attempts against Auburn’s Alyssa Quinones-Mixon after both competitors achieved 14-0.50 (4.28m) clearances.