USC joins Florida, Kentucky in eclipsing 3:32 in January

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

USC set the women's indoor collegiate 4x400-meter relay record last year in winning the NCAA Division 1 title in 3 minutes, 27.03 seconds to edge Oregon (3:27.07) for the championship.

The Trojans demonstrated again Saturday at the Razorback Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark., they will present a formidable challenge March 9-10 at the NCAA Division 1 championship meet in College Station, Texas.

USC's Anna Cockrell, Kyra Constantine, Kendall Ellis and Deanna Hill ran 3:31.25 to join Florida and Kentucky in running under 3:32 already this season, the first time three women's 4x400 relays have achieved the feat in January. Texas A&M ran 3:32.61 to place second to USC and Oregon clocked 3:32.92 to win the Dr. Sander Invitational at The Armory in New York.

Florida's Taylor Sharpe, Taylor Manson, Lauryn Ghee and Sharrika Barnett ran a world-leading 3:31.17 on Jan. 20 at the Clemson Invitational to edge Kentucky's Faith Ross, Sydney McLaughlin, Jasmine Camacho-Quinn and Kayelle Clark in 3:31.65.

USC was the only women's 4x400 to run under 3:32 in January last year, clocking 3:30.66 at the Razorback Invitational.

It marks the first time since 2013 that two programs eclipsed the 3:32 barrier in January, with Florida clocking 3:31.68 to hold off Texas in 3:31.69 that season at the Razorback Invitational.