Jacobus strengthens national pole vault lead in Texas meet

LUBBOCK, Texas — Competing in Lubbock at Texas Tech’s brand new Sports Performance Center, No. 1 Arkansas kicked off the two-day Texas Tech Open with three event wins and strong marks in the field.

The highlight of the day came in the pole vault as junior Lexi Jacobus strengthened her national lead by 1¼ inches with an indoor personal best clearance of 4.64m/15-2¾.

Event Winners:
• 60 Meters – Payton Chadwick, 7.34
• Long Jump – Taliyah Brooks, 6.37m/20-10¾
• Pole Vault – Lexi Jacobus, 4.64m/15-2¾

Pole Vault Power

The Arkansas pole vault crew dominated its competition for the fourth-consecutive week, with Razorbacks sweeping first through fifth place.

It was the second-consecutive victory for Jacobus and her third top-two finish of the season.

All-American vaulters Tori Hoggard and Desiree Freier, placed second and third, respectively, both improving upon their season bests.

Hoggard moved up to No. 3 in the NCAA with a clearance of 4.54m/14-10¾, while Freier moved up to No. 5 with a clearance of 4.39m/14-4¾.

Morgan Hartsell and Rylee Robinson, rounded out the group finishing in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Elsewhere in the field redshirt senior Taliyah Brooks captured the long jump title with a season best mark of 6.37m/20-10¾, improving her national standing in the event from 10th in the NCAA to fifth.

The top combined events performer in the country among college competitors, Brooks now ranks inside the NCAA top-five in three events: 60-meter hurdles, long jump and pentathlon.

On the Track

Springdale native Payton Chadwick carried the banner for Arkansas on the track, placing first in the 60-meter dash with a PR of 7.34. Her performance moved her up to fifth in program history.

Along with Chadwick, four other Razorbacks qualified for the finals and finished among the top-eight best in the field including Kiara Parker (7.43, third), Taliyah Brooks (7.44, fourth), Tamara Kuykendall (7.47, fifth) and Janeek Brown (7.50, seventh).

Events To Watch (Saturday):
• 400 Meters | 12:15 p.m. on Texas Tech TV (subscription required)
Featured Razorback: Payton Chadwick (PR: 53.42)

• Millrose Games Mile | 4:27 p.m. CT on NBC
Featured Razorback: Nikki Hltz (PR: 4:34.57)

Texas Tech Open
February 2, 2018
Sports Performance Center (Lubbock, Texas)

60 Meters Prelims
1. Payton Chadwick – 7.37
2. Kiara Parker – 7.42
3. Taliyah Brooks – 7.42
7. Tamara Kuykendall – 7.56
8. Janeek Brown – 7.59
19. Morgan Burks-Magee – 7.73

60 Meters Finals
1. Payton Chadwick – 7.34
3. Kiara Parker – 7.43
4. Taliyah Brooks – 7.44
5. Tamara Kuykendall – 7.47
7. Janeek Brown – 7.50

Pole Vault
1. Lexi Jacobus – 4.64m/15-2¾
2. Tori Hoggard – 4.54m/14-10¾
3. Desiree Freier – 4.39m/14-4¾
4. Morgan Hartsell – 3.99m/13-1
5. Rylee Robinson – 3.99m/13-1
7. Ellie Ramos-Mata – 3.84m/12-7¼

Long Jump
1. Taliyah Brooks – 6.37m/20-10¾