Brooks surpasses 22-foot barrier for first time with big final jump at home meet

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

One of the most talented multi-event athletes in NCAA Division 1 history delivered the best all-time long jump by an Arkansas female athlete Saturday at the Razorbacks season-opening Spring Invitational at John McDonnell Field.

Fifth-year senior Taliyah Brooks not only improved on her own program record, but took over the world outdoor lead this year with a wind-legal jump of 22 feet, 3 inches (6.78m) on her final attempt.

“The entire day I was having really good attempts. We were battling the wind a bit, but I think on my last attempt everything came together,” said Brooks, who had a previous outdoor best of 21-4 (6.50m) in June at the Division 1 Outdoor Championships.

“The crowd was very encouraging, and I put a big one out there.”

Brooks equaled the No. 14 wind-legal performer in NCAA history, eight of which represent the Southeastern Conference. She also elevated into a tie for the No. 34 American all-time long jumper.

Her best career performance before Saturday came indoors in February, also in Fayetteville, with a 21-6.75 (6.57m) jump at the Tyson Invitational. Brooks went on to capture the NCAA indoor pentathlon title March 9 in College Station, Texas.

“This year my goal has been to jump 6.70. I think now I can rewrite that goal to something new,” said Brooks, who placed third in the long jump at the 2016 NCAA outdoor final.

“In the multis, I would still like to try to get close to the 6.60-6.70 mark, but overall, I think I’m just looking to have consistent, far jumps throughout this outdoor season. I’m really excited I finally got a huge, legal jump, and was happy to do it at a home meet in front of our fans.”

In addition to Brooks, Arkansas sophomore Jada Baylark equaled the 2004 program record in the 100-meter dash set by Veronica Campbell-Brown by running a wind-legal 11.10 seconds. Baylark took over the wind-legal collegiate lead and ranks No. 2 in the world this year behind South African professional Carina Horn (11.03).

Brooks will look to make history again Wednesday and Thursday at the 91st Clyde Littlefield Texas Relays when she competes in her first heptathlon this season.

Brooks won the Texas Relays title in 2016, then took second last year to former Mississippi State star Erica Bougard, who set the meet record with 6,246 points. Brooks’ career best is 6,099 points from last year’s SEC Championships, which makes her the No. 14 performer in Division 1 history.