Razorback 4 x 400 relay SEC Runner of the Week

BIRMINGHAM – The women’s SEC Runner of the Week accolade was claimed by the Arkansas 4 x 400m relay as they improved its world-leading time to 3:26.40, nearly four seconds better from a 3:30.38 effort two weeks ago.

Arkansas’ relay foursome included junior Amber Anning, junior Nickisha Pryce, senior Paris Peoples, and junior Rosey Effiong.

The relay time ranks as the fifth-best collegiate performance ever and is No. 2 on the UA all-time list behind the 3:24.09 collegiate record the Razorbacks set in 2022 at the SEC Championships.

With a line-up that didn’t include Britton Wilson, who set a collegiate record in the 600m two weeks earlier, the Razorbacks produced the second fastest time ever in the month of January, only trailing the world record of 3:23.37 set by Russia on January 28, 2006.

“It’s a tribute to Chris Johnson and how he’s developed his young people,” stated Arkansas women’s coach Lance Harter. “We’ve been blessed to have a couple of people transfer in that have really good credentials.”

The Razorbacks demolished the meet record and nearly eclipsed the facility record. The previous meet record was a 3:29.38 set by Arkansas last year. The facility record of 3:26.27 was set by Texas A&M in February of 2021.

Kentucky had the previous fastest collegiate time in January with a 3:28.62 set in 2022 ahead of a 3:29.09 by Arkansas in the same race at Lubbock.

The Arkansas foursome of Anning (52.19), Pryce (51.34), Peoples (51.98), and Effiong (50.89) defeated a field which included Florida (3:27.58), USC (3:29.81), Texas A&M (3:29.92), and LSU (3:29.94).

Three of the Razorbacks established career best times in the open 400m - Anning (51.56), Pryce (51.89), and Peoples (52.06), while Effiong posted a 52.04 - and currently rank 2-3-4-5 among collegians this season.

They also currently rank No. 4, No. 7, equal No. 9 on the UA all-time list with Effiong at No. 6 with her PR of 51.82 from 2021.

“What’s remarkable is on our B team, we have a young lady who actually ran one of our faster splits in the relay this past weekend,” noted Harter. “Plus, Britton Wilson, no doubt, is a great addition to our line-up as well. I think some of our NCAA competitors have seen a preview of what an arsenal Chris has at his disposal.”

Joanne Reid registered a split of 51.19, fourth fastest in the meet overall, on the second leg of the Arkansas B relay that produced a time of 3:33.48.

Among the current Razorback top 10 times in the 4 x 400m relay, Effiong has been part of seven relay performances, running first leg twice, second leg twice, and anchor leg three times dating back to 2021. Her 50.89 anchor split on Saturday bettered her previous best of 51.51 from two weeks ago and a 51.61 coming into this season.

Peoples, meanwhile, has raced on four of the top eight performances as well as two of the top five distance medley relays, including the DMR school record that claimed the 2022 NCAA Indoor title.

Entering the Razorback Invitational, Peoples sported a 400m split career best of 52.65 from the NCAA distance medley victory. On Friday, she bettered that with a 51.81 carry on the Arkansas distance medley.