SEC Indoor Track & Field Weekly Honors: Feb. 7
Men's Runner of the Week
4x400 Relay, Arkansas
The Arkansas relay team of Connor Washington (46.61), James Benson II (44.82), Ayden Owens-Delerme (45.34), and Chris Bailey (44.32) recorded the second fastest 4x400m relay ever as the Razorbacks broke the school record with a 3-minute, 1.09 second victory (converted to 3:01.52). On all-time collegiate and world lists, the Razorbacks only trail a 3:00.07 effort by USC from 2018 and bettered the Arkansas school record of 3:03.18 set in 2022. The Razorbacks become just the fifth relay to have a pair of sub 45 seconds splits in the same race indoors, and the Arkansas combo is the second fastest at 89.14, behind an 88.87 by USC in 2018 with Rai Benjamin (44.35) and Michael Norman (44.52).
Men's Field Athlete of the Week
Jordan West, Arkansas
West, a dramatic win was claimed by West in the shot put, winning with a career best toss of 66-5.76 (20.26) in the final round to hand Turner Washington of Arizona State (65-10.5|20.08) his first loss indoors since February 29, 2020. West led the field through four rounds with a series of 65-3.5 (19.90), 65-7.75 (20.01) 65-7.75 (20.01), and 65-7.75 (20.01), hitting the same mark three consecutive times. A foul followed in round five when Washington moved into the lead with a 65-10.5 (20.08) effort.
Men's Freshman of the Week
Jaydon Hibbert, Arkansas
Hibbert, claimed the triple jump victory with identical marks of 54-10.75 (16.73) from a short approach in the first two rounds at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. It is the current collegiate leader and ranks fourth in the world for 2023. Hibbert, the World U20 Champion in 2022, moves to No. 9 on the UA all-time list with his winning mark. His short approach on both attempts was eight steps.
Women's Runner of the Week
Favour Ofili, LSU
Ofili, ran a time of 22.55 seconds (converted to 22.62 for altitude) in the first heat of the women's 200 meter at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic and took first at the meet among 30 runners. She followed that performance up with a bronze worthy finish in the 60 meter on Saturday. Ofili ran a time of 7.25 seconds in the preliminaries and then followed it up with a time of 7.21 seconds in the finals. Her time of 7.21 seconds adjusts to 7.23 seconds for altitude and ranks just outside of the top-10 at 11th in the nation.
Women's Co-Field Athlete of the Week
Lamara Distin, Texas A&M
Distin claimed the high jump victory at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic, clearing 6-4.5/1.94m. Distin's mark is the NCAA lead, Texas A&M school record, breaking the previous record set by Tyra Gittens in 2021, and ties the ninth-best leap in the world this year.
Amanda Fassold, Arkansas
Fassold, improved her indoor best to 14-10.75 inches (4.54) in the pole vault to take sole possession of the collegiate lead for 2023 at the New Mexico Collegiate Classic. Moving to No. 5 on the UA all-time list, Fassold is currently equal No. 10 on the 2023 world list. Among all-time collegiate lists in the pole vault, Fassold is No. 12 among all collegians, and she becomes the fifth Razorback among that group. She is now No. 10 among U.S. collegians all-time.
Women's Freshman of the Week
Silan Ayyildiz, South Carolina
Ayyildiz, made her debut over the weekend, competing in the mile run on Friday, capturing the podium when she clocked a time of 4:36.33, breaking the Carolina Indoor Track & Field Complex facility record by 3.64 seconds. Ayyildiz's time also set a new Gamecock indoor record for the mile. Ayyildiz ran the women's 800 meter the following day, earning her second win of the weekend when she posted a time of 2:06.41 for the third-fastest 800m in Gamecock history.