Brooks named field athlete of week; prepped for Texas Relays

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Senior Taliyah Brooks was named the SEC’s Co-Field Athlete of the Week following her record long jump at the Arkansas Spring Invitational this past weekend.

In her first outing since capturing the NCAA pentathlon title at the national indoor meet, Brooks led the long jump from start to finish.

The Razorback senior began her series with a wind-aided mark of 6.44m/21-1.5, which stood as the top jump until her final attempt of the day.

With the wind cooperating (+1.2), Brooks soared out to a 6.78m/22-3 measure which improved upon the previous record (21-4) by nearly one foot; she owned that mark, too.

Her mark is the best in the country this season by more than a foot.

“She had a terrific indoor season,” associate coach Chris Johnson said. “Coming off of her National Championship, we’re going to be a little more focused on individual events in the outdoor season. Obviously this weekend we’ll go to Texas looking for a national qualifier in the heptathlon.”

The Witchita Falls native owns Arkansas records in the indoor and outdoor long jump, the pentathlon and the heltathlon. Her mark is the longest in the SEC by 1-1.75.

Brooks shared the honor with Ole Miss’ Maddie McHugh who took first in the 800 meters at the Trailblazer Challenge.

Heptathlon Preview

Brooks opens up the Texas Relays on Wednesday with four of seven events in the heptathlon with the 100 meter hurdles, high jump, shot put and 200 meter dash.

Brooks, who owns the record in the heptathlon, set the school record at the Texas Relays last season with 6,075 points.

That record held up until she scored 6,099 points in the heptathlon at the SEC Championships last May.

“Taliyah’s got the heptathlon this weekend,” said coach Lance Harter. “It starts tomorrow morning. It’s early but traditionally we’ve always done that.

“They’ve always produced great marks and that gives her a chance to catch her breath and focus on her open events and ultimately get ready for the SEC and national meet.”

10:30 a.m. Heptathlon Schedule
100 Meter Hurdles
High Jump
Shot Put
200 Meter Dash