The Arkansas Razorbacks women's track and field team got a dominating performance in the heptathlon and second-place from freshman Taylor Werner in the 10,000 meters as the SEC Outdoor Championships opened Thursday in Columbia, S.C.
The Razorbacks hold the top four spots after four events of the heptathlon with junior Taliyah Brooks in first with 3,733 points followed by senior Leigha Brown (3,654), junior Payton Stumbaugh (3,648) and sophomore Kelsey Herman (3,643).
Georgia senior Kendell Williams, the defending NCAA champion, isn't competing in the heptathlon at the SEC meet to focus on nationals, but University of Arkansas, Fayetteville Coach Lance Harter said the Razorbacks are still performing at a high level so far in the event.
"What our kids are doing is beyond expectations," Harter said. "To line yourself up 1-2-3-4 on the first day is real special, especially in this conference."
Brooks had the top high jump at 5 feet, 10 3/4 inches, set personal-bests in the shot put (39-4) and 200 (23.88) and ran 13.14 in the 100 hurdles.
Brown had the top shot-put mark at 43.8 and a personal-best 24.19 in the 200 while Stumbaugh led in the 100 hurdles at 13.00 and ran a personal-best 23.22 in the 200. Herman had personal-bests in the high jump (5-93/4) and shot-put (39-0 1/4).
Razorbacks sophomore Ashlee Moore also is scoring position in eighth place in the heptathlon with 3,307 points.
Werner, the only Razorback to compete in a final Thursday, scored eight points in the 10,000 by running 34:15.71 behind Missouri sophomore Jamie Kempfer, who won in the 33:52.19.
Harter said it was the first 10,000 Werner -- who won the 3,000 and took second in the 5,000 at the SEC indoor meet -- ever has run.
"For Taylor's to run that well in the first 10,000 in her life in these conditions is truly exceptional," Harter said. "She's a very gifted young lady."
Advancing out of preliminaries to finals for the Razorbacks were junior Nikki Hiltz (2:05.83) and Ceara Watson (2:06.13) in the 800 and sophomore Damajahee Birch (57.25) in the 400 hurdles.
Arkansas is going for its 10th consecutive SEC title in cross country and indoor and outdoor track. The last time the Razorbacks didn't win an SEC meet was the 2014 indoors.
"We're super excited about where we stand right now," Harter said. "We're right on schedule."
Sports on 05/12/2017