Four former Arkansas Razorbacks athletes earned medals on the third day of the USATF Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene.
Nikki Hiltz won her third consecutive USATF Outdoor title in the 1,500 meters with a time of 4:03.15. Hiltz finished ahead of Sinclaire Johnson, who clocked 4:03.77, and Emily Mackey, who finished in 4:04.38. Hiltz moved from third to first over the final lap, splitting 43.22 seconds for the last 300 meters and 58.67 seconds for the last 400 meters.
Hunter Woodhall secured his second gold medal of the meet by winning the T62 400 meters in 45.79 seconds after having previously won the 100 meters. Woodhall has now qualified for both events at the World Para Championships, which are scheduled to take place in New Delhi, India.
In the women’s 400 meters, Isabella Whittaker took silver with a time of 49.59 seconds behind Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone’s winning mark of 48.90 seconds. Aaliyah Butler placed third in 49.91 seconds.
Other Arkansas alumni competing in the women’s 400-meter final included Britton Wilson (sixth place, 50.88) and Rosey Effiong (eighth place, 51.29). Alexis Holmes, who trains in Fayetteville, finished fifth with a time of 50.33.
Chris Bailey earned a silver medal in the men’s 400 meters by finishing second with a time of 44.43 seconds; Jacory Patterson won the race in 44.16 seconds while Khaleb McRae took third at 44.45 and Vernon Norwood was fourth at 44.47.
Krissy Gear ran a personal best of 9:11.64 in the women’s 3,000-meter steeplechase but finished fourth behind Kaylee Mitchell’s third-place finish of 9:11.36; Logan Jolly placed eleventh with a time of 9:44.99.
Dalilah Muhammad and Anna Cockrell, both professionals training in Fayetteville, went first and second respectively (53.30 and 53.97) during the opening round of the women’s 400-meter hurdles.
Destiny Huven reached the final of the women’s 100-meter hurdles after running a semifinal time of 12.75; she finished eighth in the final with a mark of 12.81.
