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Arkansas Men, Florida Women Hoist Trophies At SEC Indoor ChampionshipsPublished by
Razorbacks Dominate Men's Meet, Gators Chomp Arkansas' 11-Year Streak Of Women's Titles; Ajayi Ties Collegiate Record In 60 By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor Kylie Graham Photos The Arkansas men scored in 12 of 17 events and all but one of the track events on the way to its 28th SEC Indoor Track and Field Championship. But there was no sweep. Florida's women denied Arkansas a potential 12th consecutive conference title by a thin margin of 77 points to 73. The parity in the nation's most powerful track and field conference was evident with seven schools scoring at least 50 points. Auburn's Kanyinsola Ajayi tied the Christian Coleman's collegiate record and broke the meet record in the 60-meter dash with a time of 6.45 seconds. The meet record, held by Tennessee's Leonard Scott (6.48) had been on the books since 2001. Arkansas' Jelani Watkins, who finished second in the 60, came back to win the 200 meters final in 20.28 seconds. Brian Masai and Ernest Cheruiyot went 1-2 for Arkansas in the 3,000 meters. Then, the Razorbacks put an exclamation point on the meet by winning the 4x400 relay in 3:04.21. Samuel Ogazi of Alabama ran a facility record time of 44.72 seconds to win the 400 meters. Auburn's JaKobe Tharp, the NCAA champion, outleaned Texas A&M's JaQualon Scott, 7.48 to 7.50 to win the 60 hurdles final. Drew Rogers of Missouri won the men's mile in a time of 4:02.42. That was the one track event where Arkansas didn't have anyone in the finals. Ismaila Sawaneh from Tennessee won the men's pole vault with a personal best clearance at 18-11.50 (5.78m). The Vols went 1-2-5-7 and scored 23.5 points in the event -- the most by any team in any single event. Kimani Jack of Georgia cleared a personal best 7-5.75 (2.28m) to win the high jump, the highest clearance in the NCAA this season. Oklahoma duo Tyson Ritz and Kyren Washington finished second and third with 7-4.50 (2.25m). Kentucky's Theo Mudzengerere beat Oklahoma's Brandon Green Jr in the triple jump with a first attempt 54-10 (16.71m). Florida Turns To Distance Runners To Pull Off Victory
Florida scored 38 of its 77 points in the mile, 3,000 meters and 5,000 meters.
Hilda Olemomoi (3,000) and Claire Stegall (mile) both ran to second place finishes and had teammates scoring behind them on Saturday.
South Carolina’s Salma Elbadra scored the Gamecocks’ first SEC women’s mile title, running a time of 4:30.72.
Alabama's Doris Lemngole won the 3,000 meters in 8:45.90, defeating Olemomoi and Arkansas' Sydney Vaught, the 5,000 meters champion, who was third.
Alicia Burnett of Ole Miss tied the meet record in the women's 60 meters, winning in 7.08 seconds.
LSU's Ella Onojuvwevwo won the 400 meters final in 50.92 seconds. Dejanea Oakley of Georgia was second in 51.21.
Georgia finished third with 68 points and remains one of the favorites for the NCAA Indoor title. The Bulldogs scored 18 points in the triple jump with Skylynn Townsend (44-3.50/13.50m) and Danah Nembhard (43-7.75/13.30m) going 1-2.
Georgia's Adaejah Hodge ran a personal best time of 22.32 seconds to win the 200 meters, beating a star-studded field that included JaMeesia Ford of South Carolina (second in 22.61), Camryn Dickson of Texas A&M (third in 22.76) and Texas freshman Elise Cooper (fourth in 22.80).
Hodge exceeded her high school national record of 22.33 set at New Balance Nationals Indoor in 2023.
Emmi Scales of Kentucky won the women's 60 hurdles in 7.85 seconds.
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