Arkansas captures three event titles at ‘Michael Johnson’

WACO, Texas — No. 11 Arkansas finished its busy weekend around the country with a strong showing at the 2018 Michael Johnson Invitational, hosted by Baylor University Saturday afternoon at Clyde Hart Track & Field Stadium.

Erich Sullins got things going in the opening event of the meet, finishing runner-up in the hammer throw with a best of 59.86m (196′-05″). Sullins returned in the discus to post a third-place finish throwing 52.66m (172′-9″).

The hammer throw gave way to the events on the track at the Michael Johnson Invite.

Harrison Schrage ran 10.66 in the morning session of the 100-meters finishing first in the session, and fourth overall combined with the evening run.

In the 200-meters, it was a Razorback sweep as Kenzo Cotton (20.53), Obi Igbokwe (20.66), and Roy Ejiakuekwu (20.88) raced away from the competition to finish 1-2-3. Kevin Harris also competed in the 200-meters running 22.46 taking 18th-place.

Moving up to 400-meters, Jamarco Stephen led the way for Arkansas running a season-best 47.39 for a top-10 finish, snagging ninth-place. Arkansas also finished 11th and 12th as Hunter Woodhall made his season debut running 47.73 right before John Winn ran 47.91.

It was a 1-2 finish in the 800-meters for Kieran Taylor and Chase Pareti. The freshmen duo ran times of 1:51.11 and 1:52.83 – both season-best times. Reese Walters finished 12th in the event running 1:56.82.

Larry Donald posted an all-conditions lifetime best for in the 110-meter hurdles running 13.85 seconds for a second-place finish. Travius Chambers also set a personal-best in the high hurdles running 14.97.

The duo would later return to run the 400-meter hurdles. Chambers again finished with a personal best time running 51.06 for fifth-place while Donald finished 12th at 52.57.

The team of Kevin Harris, Kemar Mowatt, Roy Ejiakuekwu and Kenzo Cotton combined to run 39.07 in the 4-x-100-meter relay for the win.

In the 4-x-400-meter relay, the squad of Jamarco Stephen, Kemar Mowatt, Roy Ejiakuekwu, and Obi Igbokwe carried the baton to the tune of 3:05.48 – a season-best time.

In the invite section of the shot put, Jeff Rogers took fifth with his season-best throw of 16.71m (54′-10″), followed by Sam Kempka in seventh-place with a best of 16.43m (53′-11″) in the competition. Decathlete Gabe Moore finished eighth in the open section of the shot put with a best throw of 14.06m (46′-1.50″).

Brandon Rivera and Rubin Owens finished fourth and fifth, respectively in the high jump. Rivera finished with a best clearance of 2.08m (6′-9.75″), while Rivera cleared 2.03m (6′-8″) on the day.

Laquan Nairn finished eighth in the long jump leaping out to a mark of 7.00m (22′-11.75″). Trae Carey took 11th jumping 6.81m (22′-4.25″).

Alex Springer (56.31m/184′-9″) and Andrew Henn (54.11m/177′-6″) finished third and fifth, respectively, in the javelin throw.