FAYETTEVILLE -- When sprinter Taylor Ellis-Watson decided to transfer from the University of Pittsburgh with three seasons of eligibility remaining, she narrowed her choices to Arkansas and Florida.
"Not that Florida would be a bad choice, but we're happy Taylor's here at Arkansas," said Razorbacks assistant Chris Johnson, who coaches the sprinters. "If she was at Florida, we'd have to deal with her.
SEC Indoor Track and Field Championships
WHEN Today and Saturday
WHERE Randal Tyson Track Center, Fayetteville
MEN’S TEAM FAVORITES No. 1 Arkansas, No. 3 LSU, No. 4 Tennessee, No. 5 Texas A&M
WOMEN’S TEAM FAVORITES No. 2 Georgia, No. 3 Florida and No. 4 Arkansas
DEFENDING MEN’S CHAMPION Florida
DEFENDING WOMEN’S CHAMPION Arkansas
TICKETS Two-day, all-session ticket prices are $35 for reserved seating, $25 for adult general admission and $15 for students.
INTERNET/TV There will be a live stream of the meet on SEC Network-Plus at 4 p.m. today and at 3 p.m. Saturday. The meet will be televised from 6-8 p.m. Sunday on ESPN.
"We're very elated we don't have to compete against her. We like having her on our side."
Ellis-Watson, a fifth-year senior from Philadelphia, will run the 200 meters, 400, and 1,600 relay at the SEC Indoor Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center this weekend when the No. 4-ranked Razorbacks battle No. 2 Georgia and No. 3 Florida for the women's team title.
Arkansas and Florida each have won five SEC Indoor championships since 2000 and took turns the last four years with the Razorbacks winning in 2013 and 2015 the Gators in 2012 and 2014.
"We are truly blessed Taylor Ellis-Watson is not wearing a Gator uniform," Arkansas Coach Lance Harter said. "She's a coach's dream.
"She's an outstanding student, a great competitor, but more importantly she's just a class person.
"She's totally devoted to the team and takes care of all the details you need to be a champion and elite athlete."
Ellis-Watson, a seven-time All-American for the Razorbacks, said she enjoyed her recruiting visit to Florida -- especially the warm weather.
"But when I visited Arkansas, it just felt right," she said. "It really felt like this was going to be home for the next few years.
"It did take me a while to get used to Arkansas, because I was used to the big city, but I love how quaint it is here.
"Everybody is so nice. Not everybody in Philadelphia is like that."
Ellis-Watson will take on the nation's top sprinters this weekend, including several Gators.
The SEC has four of the nation's top five times in the 400 with Taylor-Watson second (52.18 seconds), followed by Florida's Kyra Jefferson (52.19), Robin Reynolds (52.27) and Claudia Francis (52.39).
In the 200, Jefferson (22.72), Tennessee's Felicia Brown (22.81) and Ellis-Watson (23.03) have the top three times.
Florida's 1,600 relay ranks third (3:30.51) with Arkansas fourth (3:32.27).
Ellis-Watson is running in three events at an SEC meet for the first time.
"I'm just really excited," she said. "I love competing, especially with these girls in the SEC.
"I love the 400 -- that's my baby -- but I think I can run really fast in the 200 and we can do well on the relay. I'm going to try to win everything."
Johnson said Ellis-Watson has the heart, talent and conditioning to handle her heavy workload.
"She's in a position to get it done in all her events and help us try to secure a team title," he said. "She's mature and she's been training really well. She's very talented and most of all -- knock on wood -- she's been healthy.
"She's been very strategic in terms of taking care of herself, monitoring and being able to communicate how she feels. Our medical staff has stayed on top of her."
Ellis-Watson underwent surgery for a stress fracture on her left foot in November 2013 and December 2014. The second surgery was required because one of the screws in her foot had slipped and had to be removed.
"We've planned for her to be healthy, and we finally got her there," Johnson said. "Hopefully we can keep her there."
Ellis-Watson said she's never felt better physically and credited Arkansas' medical and training staffs for their care.
"Coming here was one of the best decisions I've ever made," Ellis-Watson said. "I've been getting better every year and getting more confidence with my body.
"They've been super careful with me. If I feel anything, they're like, 'OK, we've got to figure out what's going on. We can't have you injured.'
"Sometimes it doesn't even feel real because of how great everything's going. I just know it's my year."
Sports on 02/26/2016