Eighteen athletes from the University of Arkansas will compete at the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan, representing eight different countries. The event is scheduled to take place from September 13 to September 21 at Japan National Stadium.
A total of 2,202 athletes from 198 nations are expected to participate in the 20th edition of the World Outdoor Championships. Of those who won individual gold medals at the previous championships in Budapest in 2023, thirty-eight out of forty-one are entered for this year’s competition.
This will be the third time Japan hosts the World Outdoor Championships, with Tokyo previously hosting in 1991 and Osaka in 2007.
Arkansas athletes will represent the United States (seven competitors), Jamaica (five), Belgium, Great Britain, Puerto Rico, Slovenia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Sudan. The men’s team includes Chris Bailey (US) – 400m and 4 x 400m relay; Tyrice Taylor (Jamaica) – 800m; Yaseen Abdalla (Sudan) – marathon; Romaine Beckford (Jamaica) – high jump; Carey McLeod (Jamaica) – long jump; and Ayden Owens-Delerme (Puerto Rico) – decathlon.
“It’s an excellent opportunity for these athletes to compete on the world stage,” said Arkansas men’s head coach Chris Bucknam. “With the Olympics and World Championships, it’s kind of our Super Bowl. I’m proud of the development and hard work these athletes put in to get this point. I’m looking forward to seeing how they do and obviously representing the Hogs and the state of Arkansas. I’m very, very proud of them.
“There is a sense of pride, and in my view, that’s the kind of competition that is brought here to Fayetteville by our great facilities, whether it’s the indoor or outdoor track. It’s second nature, now It’s not easy, but it’s not a huge step for our athletes because they compete in the SEC, and everybody knows what that means in all sports and track and field as well. It’s a world-class conference.”
The women’s team features twelve Razorbacks: Amber Anning (Great Britain) – 400m and relay; Nickisha Pryce (Jamaica) – 400m and relay; Isabella Whittaker (US) – 400m and relay; Shafiqua Maloney (St. Vincent) – 800m; Nikki Hiltz (US) – 1,500m; Ackera Nugent (Jamaica) – hurdles; Sandi Morris (US), Tina Šutej (Slovenia), Elien Vekemans (Belgium) – pole vault; Taliyah Brooks (US) – heptathlon; Rosey Effiong (US), Britton Wilson (US) – relays.
“It’s exciting when you have that many athletes, with the ones who are here training along with those who have Arkansas ties and have competed for the University of Arkansas,” said Arkansas women’s head coach Chris Johnson. “We have more athletes than some countries. I think it’s phenomenal.
“It tells the community, and track and field community at large, that Arkansas is doing some things right and we’re able to produce high level athletes for the World Championships and Olympics Games as well as other major meets such as the Diamond League.
“So, it’s exciting and a tribute to the coaches and the support staff who have been able to assemble these great athletes to come to Arkansas, trust in the program and go out there and compete at the very highest levels. We’re looking forward to them potentially getting medals and competing well. That’s what we do here at Arkansas.”
Bailey and Anning both claimed World Indoor titles over 400 meters earlier this year in China. At last summer’s Paris Olympics they reached their respective finals: Anning set a British national record while finishing fifth with a time of 49.29 seconds; Bailey placed sixth after running a personal best during semifinals.
Winning both indoor and outdoor world titles within one year has only been achieved once per gender—by Tyree Washington for men in 2003, Shaunae Miller-Uibo for women in 2022.
Pryce holds Jamaica’s national record after winning at London Diamond League with a time of 48.57 seconds in 2024. Whittaker broke American collegiate records indoors by clocking a time of 49.24 seconds en route to an NCAA title this year—ranking her second all-time globally indoors.
“They all competed for the Hogs and competed together,” said Johnson. “The 400 is a dynamic event for us along with the hurdles. They get to run the open 400 and have an opportunity to run a relay as well. To see them compete against one another while representing their respective countries at the highest level on that stage is gratifying as a coach.
“In the 400 we have the Jamaican national record holder in Nickisha, the British national record with Amber, and the American indoor national record with the second-best time ever in world with Bella. We’re very dominant in that event and it’s been done well. It’s a tribute to these ladies and the hard work they’ve put in as well as belief in system we have here.”
Taylor recently broke Jamaica’s national record over 800 meters by running a personal best of 1:43.74 during NACAC Senior Championships held in Bahamas—a mark which also surpassed Arkansas’ school record set nearly three decades ago by Brandon Rock.
“I’m especially proud of Tyrice, he’s been through a whole indoor and outdoor season,” noted Bucknam. “What a phenomenal way for him to finish off his 2025 track season at World Championships… He broke an iconic record set by Brandon Rock… In order to get to World Championships he had break an Arkansas school record… gives you idea how special this place is…”
Nugent captured victory at Diamond League final over hurdles with times among fastest globally this season—including setting Jamaica’s national record earlier this year.
“Ackera is trending in right direction… gives her all confidence going into World Championships… That event is stacked… I think she is very prepared…” said Johnson.
Maloney set multiple national records over eight hundred meters across recent competitions—including fourth-place finishes at Paris Olympics & Diamond League finals—and consistently posted sub-1:59 performances throughout season.
“Maloney was able get into Diamond League final…set national record…trending right direction…All these ladies bought into program…” stated Johnson.
Morris returns for her sixth appearance at World Outdoor Championships having previously earned three silver medals since debuting internationally—while Šutej makes her seventh appearance after collecting silver indoors earlier this year & multiple top-four finishes outdoors since previous editions.
Vekemans improved Belgian pole vault records several times during current season & won gold medal at World University Games last July.
McLeod earned bronze medal indoors earlier this year following fourth-place finish outdoors last summer & was Olympic finalist last month—while Beckford has appeared regularly on international circuit since winning four NCAA high jump titles for Razorbacks program.
Hiltz has produced five top-ten US performances ever recorded over fifteen hundred meters across past two seasons—with career best placing them second among Americans historically—as well as earning silver indoors & strong showings throughout recent Diamond League meets worldwide.
Owens-Delerme finished just outside medals twice recently—including ninth place Olympic finish—and posted strong results throughout multi-event competitions across Europe earlier this summer including victories & career-best scores near top ten US history books among heptathletes like Brooks who herself medaled indoors before improving lifetime bests domestically later this spring/summer season.
Abdalla set Sudanese marathon national record during debut Olympic race last month & will contest distance again next week following strong performance abroad recently where he placed inside top third overall entrants according official results published post-race online https://www.worldathletics.org/competitions/olympic-games/paris-2024/results/men/marathon/final/result#resultheader
“The events they are competing in is reflection our program…talent coaches…proud whole operation…blessed facilities pedigree tradition…reflection work being done…” stated Bucknam.“That’s why feel confident these athletes could have great success…They grew up college competing against Olympians World Champions week week out…I think they can take experience Tokyo fact used kind competition…I’m excited watch support back home.”
Relay events may also feature several Razorbacks including Bailey—who contributed splits towards Olympic gold-medal-winning American squad setting new games record last month—and others like Effiong or Anning who’ve previously medaled internationally or broken global records alongside teammates from various nations.
Coverage details can be found via NBC or Peacock streaming services alongside full schedule updates available online https://www.ustfccca.org/meets-results/broadcast-schedule.
