Anning defends British 400m, Morris wins fifth outdoor title

EUGENE – Three gold medals were attained by Arkansas alums in three separate national championships. Sandi Morris won a fifth USATF Outdoor pole vault title, Amber Anning defended her British 400m title, and LaQuan Nairn won the Bahamas long jump.

At the USATF & Para National Championships held at Hayward Field, Arkansas alums totaled eight medals on the weekend with four gold, three silver, and a bronze. Pro athletes training in Fayetteville added a gold and silver in the women’s 400m hurdles.

A season best clearance of 15-10 (4.83) secured the pole vault victory for Morris, her first USATF Outdoor title since 2022. Morris missed three attempts 16-1.75 (4.92). Katie Moon and Amanda Moll placed second and third with a clearance of 15-6.25 (4.73).

Morris made her sixth World Outdoor Championship team, where she has collected three silver medals in London (2017), Doha (2019) and Eugene (2022). The 15-10 clearance marks her second best effort at USATF Outdoor, second to a 15-11 (4.85) winning height in 2019.

Anning posted a winning time of 50.53 in Birmingham, England, as was just shy of the Championship meet record of 50.47 she established last year. Victoria Ohuruogu ran 50.79 in second place with Yemi Mary John (50.84) and Nicole Yeargin (51.75) in third and fourth.

LaQuan Nairn won the long jump at the Bahamas Championships with a wind-aided mark of 25-5 (7.77) with a 2.1 wind.

Razorback Funminiyi Olajide finished fourth in the UK Athletics long jump with a windy distance of 20-5.25 (6.23).

Jordan West reached the final of the shot put and finished eighth overall with a mark of 64-11.25 (19.79). In the 200m prelims, Dapriest Hogans (20.72) and Lance Lang (20.92) ranked 14th and 16th overall.

Muhammad won the 400m hurdles in 52.65 while Cockrell finished as runner-up in 52.89. Brittany Brown placed fourth in the 200m, 0.001 of second out of third place as she and Gabby Thomas both ran 22.20 along with McKenzie Long in fifth place.

Razorback medalists | Weekend National Championships

6 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze