SEC Indoor Track & Field Weekly Honors: Feb. 7

Runner of the Week Boys

4×400 relay, Arkansas

The Arkansas relay team of Connor Washington (46.61), James Benson II (44.82), Ayden Owens-Delerme (45.34), and Chris Bailey (44.32) recorded the second-fastest 4x400m relay as the Razorbacks broke the school record by 3-minutes, 1.09 seconds victory (modified for 3:01.52). In the all-time collegiate and world list, the Razorbacks trail only the 3:00.07 effort by USC from 2018 and better the Arkansas school record of 3:03.18 set in 2022. The Razorbacks became only the fifth relay to have a pair of sub 45. seconds split in the same race in indoor, and Arkansas is the second fastest combo at 89.14, behind 88.87 by USC in 2018 with Rai Benjamin (44.35) and Michael Norman (44.52).

Sunday Men’s Field Athlete

West Jordan, Arkansas

West, a dramatic victory claimed by West in the shot put, won with a career-best toss of 66-5.76 (20.26) in the final round to hand Arizona State’s Turner Washington (65-10.5|20.08) his first indoor loss since February 29, 2020 West led the field through four rounds with streaks of 65-3.5 (19.90), 65-7.75 (20.01) 65-7.75 (20.01), and 65-7.75 (20.01), reaching the same mark three times in a row. A foul followed in the fifth round when Washington moved into the lead with a 65-10.5 (20.08) effort.

New people on Sunday

Jaydon Hibbert, Arkansas

Hibbert, claimed the triple jump victory with an identical score of 54-10.75 (16.73) from the short approach in the first two rounds of the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. That’s the current collegiate lead and ranks fourth in the world for 2023. Hibbert, the World U20 Champion in 2022, moves to No. 9 on UA’s all-time list with the win. The short approach in both endeavors is eight steps.

Female Runner of the Week

Favor Ofili, LSU

Ofili, ran a time of 22.55 seconds (converted to 22.62 for height) in the first heat of the women’s 200 meters at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic and took first in the meet among 30 runners. He followed up that performance with a bronze finish in the 60 meters on Saturday. Ofili ran a time of 7.25 seconds in the preliminary round and followed that with a time of 7.21 seconds in the final round. His time of 7.21 seconds set him at 7.23 seconds for the high and ranks outside the top 10 at 11th in the nation.

Women’s Co-Field Athlete of the Week

Lamar Distin, Texas A&M

Distin claimed the high jump victory at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic, clearing 6-4.5 / 1.94m. Distin’s mark is the NCAA leader, a Texas A&M school record, breaking the previous record set by Tyra Gittens in 2021, and making it the ninth best jump in the world this year.

Amanda Fassold, Arkansas

Fassold, improved his indoor best to 14-10.75 inches (4.54) in the pole vault to take the collegiate lead for 2023 at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. Go to No. 5 on the UA all-time list, Fassold is now tied for 10th on the 2023 world list. Among the all-time collegiate pole vault list, Fassold is 12th among all freshmen, and he is the fifth Razorback in that group. He is currently ranked 10th among US students.

New women on Sunday

Silan Ayyildiz, South Carolina

Ayyildiz, making his weekend debut, competed in the mile race on Friday, taking the podium in 4:36.33, breaking the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex facility record by 3.64 seconds. Ayyildiz’s time also set a new Gamecock indoor record for the mile. Ayyildiz ran in the women’s 800 meters the following day, earning her second victory of the weekend as she posted a time of 2:06.41 for the third fastest 800m in Gamecock history.