Arkansas women lead after Day 2

Arkansas' Krissy Gear competes in the steeplechase on Friday, May 14, 2021, during the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in College Station, Texas. (Photo by Robert Black, via Arkansas Athletics)

The University of Arkansas’ No. 2-ranked women’s team vaulted to the lead Friday night at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships in College Station, Texas.

Razorbacks sophomore Nastassja Campbell won the pole vault by clearing 14 feet, 10 3/4 inches — her personal best, the nation’s top mark this season and a Cushing Stadium record — to lead a 23-point performance for Arkansas in the event.

“For us, I think everything went according to plan, except for the pole vault,” Razorbacks Coach Lance Harter said. “That far exceeded our expectations.”

Arkansas senior Lauren Martinez cleared a personal-best 14-8 3/4 to tie for second with LSU junior Lisa Gunnarsson. The Razorbacks also got points from freshman Mackenzie Hayward taking fifth in a personal-best 14-0 3/4, and sophomore Bailee McCorkle seventh in a personal-best 13-9.

“Our vaulters just did an absolutely fantastic job of competing, and they weren’t gimmes,” Harter said. “Every height they had to make was their lifetime bests. Coach [Bryan] Compton just did a fantastic job of having those kids ready.”

Arkansas also got big points in the 3,000-meter steeplechase — and a victory from junior Krissy Gear — and leads the team race through eight finals with 51 points. Alabama is second with 47 points.

Gear won in 9:38.62 and took the lead with about 350 meters left from Auburn junior Joyce Kimeli, who faded on the final two laps after opening up a big lead early in the race.

“Krissy did a magnificent job of being patient, and she was able to run down Kimeli,” Harter said. “Kimeli went out way, way too aggressive — at least from my thinking — and she got burned at the end.

“Krissy was able to identify that she was in trouble and then with about 600 meters to go really made a move to catch her. Once Krissy got by her, it was over.”

Arkansas also got points in the steeplechase from juniors Gracie Hyde (sixth in 10:04.20) and Logan Morris (seventh in 10:04.55).

“They both had strong finishes to put themselves in good scoring positions,” Harter said.

Arkansas sophomore Tiana Wilson advanced in the 400 (51.85) after advancing in the 200 on Thursday. Junior Morgan Burks-Magee also advanced in the 400 (52.55) and junior Jada Baylark in the 100 (11.32).

Freshmen Daszay Freeman (12.92) and Yiveinny Mota (13.04) advanced for Arkansas in the 100 hurdles. Senior Carina Viljoen (4:17.93), freshman Isabel Van Camp (4:19.17) and senior Kennedy Thomson (4:23.88) advanced in the 1,500.

“We’ve got the people in the finals that we had hoped for, and now we’ve just got to match up with the likes of LSU and Alabama and try to hold them off,” Harter said. “If we can do that, we’ll have a very pleasant finish.”

LSU is sixth with 26 points, but the Tigers are ranked No. 1.

“I think LSU might have more qualifiers the last day than we do, so we’re just going to have to capitalize on all our scoring opportunities,” Harter said. “Sometimes in past years we’ve had a little bit of a pad to work with. Not this time. It’s going to be a very tight race for the team championship.”