The 400 meters couldn’t have gone better for University of Arkansas competitors on Friday night, as the United States Olympic Track and Field Trials began at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.
All nine 400 runners — six women and three men — who are either current Razorbacks, will join Arkansas next year, are former Razorbacks, or train in Fayetteville with the UA coaches progressed to the semifinals in the first round.
The following athletes advanced to the semifinals of the women’s 400 meters on Saturday night:
• Arkansas freshman Kaylyn Brown (51.09 seconds), and junior Rosey Effiong (51.21).
• Isabella Whittaker (51.18) is transferring to Arkansas from Penn for her last year of eligibility.
• Shamier Little (50.13) and Alexis Holmes (51.05) train at Arkansas, and former Razorback Paris Peoples (52.20)
Former Razorback Chris Bailey (44.86) advanced to the men’s 400 semifinals on Sunday night, along with Arkansas sophomore TJ Tomlyanovich (45.76) and senior James Benson (45.86).
Little, an Arkansas volunteer assistant coach, is a former NCAA 400 hurdles champion at Texas A&M and a two-time World Championship hurdles silver winner in 2015 and 2023.
Little, 29, will also compete in the hurdles at the Trials, but her first-round heat is scheduled for Thursday.
“I’m going to be honest, I did not want to be bored sitting on my hands waiting for the 400 hurdles,” Little remarked in an interview with the USA Network when asked why she is also running the 400. “All I wanted to do was have fun and relieve some stress.
“Get a sense of what the atmosphere is like prior to diving into my meat and potatoes.”
Holmes, 24, won her heat in 51.05. She previously competed collegiately at Penn State and Kentucky before choosing to train at Arkansas.
During this year’s indoor season, Holmes won the 400 in the United States Championships and finished third at the World Championships.
“The goal was to win the heat, and I accomplished that,” Holmes said in an interview with USA Network following Friday night’s race. “It surely gives me some impetus after a successful indoor season.
“I have a lot of experience running in big races, and hopefully that will carry over to the next two rounds.”
Brown holds the quickest time in the 400 at the Trials this outdoor season, 49.13, which she ran to get second at the NCAA Championships in Eugene two weeks ago.
Arkansas senior Nickisha Pryce, of Jamaica, won the NCAA 400 in a collegiate record 49.89 as part of the Razorbacks’ top-four performance, which included senior Amber Anning, of Great Britain, in third and Effiong in fourth.
Brown was leading her heat after 300 meters on Friday, but she relaxed up at the end knowing she would advance automatically if she finished in the top five. She finished third in her heat, trailing Rachel Joseph (50.92) and Quanera Hayes (50.94).
Effiong led most of her heat until placing second to Holmes. Effiong ran a personal best 49.72 at the NCAA Championships.
“That was a big confidence-builder, and I feel like the most ready I could be for the Olympic Trials,” Effiong told reporters last week. “I don’t believe I’ve peaked yet. So there is an opportunity for me to accomplish something bigger.
“I feel like I’ve been putting things together slowly outdoors, and I’m finally getting where I need to be.”
Jada Baylark, a former Razorback All-American from Little Rock Parkview, finished the 100 in 11.12 seconds to go to the semifinals.
Ryan Crouser, a two-time Olympic gold champion in the shot put who trains in Fayetteville, hurled 70 feet, 4 1/4 inches to qualify for the final. Former Razorback Jordan West also progressed, throwing 65-4/34.
Former Razorback Lauren Gregory qualified for the final in the women’s 5,000 with a time of 15:25.80.
Former Razorback Daniel Spejcher is ranked 15th in the decathlon after five events, with 3,969 points. His scores were 11.11 in the 100, 22-10 1/2 in the long jump, 6-2 1/4 in the high jump, 50-0 3/4 in the shot throw, and 50.50 in the 400.
Bradley Jelmert of Arkansas State, who has outdoor eligibility until 2025, cleared 17-8 1/2 but did not advance to the final. He missed three shots at 18-0 1/2.
Arkansas sophomore Ariane Linton raced 11.52 in the 100 and did not progress. Former Razorback Stephanie Brokaw raced 2:04.20 in the 800 but did not advance.
