Brooks wins heptathlon at Texas Relays

Taliyah Brooks of Arkansas laughs as she competes in the high jump Friday, Jan. 15, 2016, during the Arkansas Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

Taliyah Brooks scored a career-best 5,991 points to win the heptathlon at the Texas Relays on Thursday.

It is the second straight year an Arkansas athlete won the event in Austin, as Alex Gochenour took home the title last season.

The Razorbacks actually had the top three athletes. Payton Stumbaugh (5,985) finished six points behind Brooks to place second and Gochenour (5,833) defended her title with a third-place finish.

The scores are also the three best in all of the NCAA so far this outdoor season, while Brooks' and Stumbaugh's scores rank third and fourth, respectively, in UA history.

The Texas Relays continue Friday and competition concludes Saturday.