SEC Indoor Track & Field Weekly Honors: Jan.31

Men’s Co-Runner of the Week

 Chris Bailey, Arkansas

Bailey, winning the Razorback Invitational 400m in a world-leading 45.09 seconds, bettered the school record as well as the meet record. Bailey improved his previous indoor best of 47.81 from 2019. The next fastest time in the world for 2023 is currently a 45.91. In the month of January, Bailey’s time is the fastest ever by a collegian and second fastest ever when including professionals. The top January time is 45.03 by Fred Kerley in 2021 at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The previous collegiate best for the month was 45.29 by Texas A&M’s Bryce Deadmon in Lubbock in 2021.

 Dylan Jacobs, Tennessee

Jacobs, set an American Collegiate Record in the indoor 5,000-meter at the John Thomas Terrier Classic, turning in a personal-best time of 13:11.01 in his Tennessee track debut. He moved to No. 3 on the all-time collegiate list while grabbing the NCAA lead for the 2023 campaign. He also established the all-time SEC standard in the indoor 5k and demolished the Tennessee program record of 13:41.50 set by two-time Olympian VFL Todd Williams in 1991.

Men’s Field Athlete of the Week

 Kyle Garland, Georgia

Garland, exploded for six personal records en route to his record-breaking score of 6,415 to win the Texas Tech Multis by more than 300 points. His final tally was the No. 2 all-time collegiate score, No. 8 all-time score in the world (No. 3 by an American) and a school and facility record. He also finished with UGA’s No. 4 all-time 60m hurdle finish (7.84) and 10th-best high jump mark (7-2.25)

Men’s Freshman of the Week

 Tarik Robinson-O’Hagan, Ole Miss

Robinson-O’Hagan, remained undefeated in the weight throw for 2023, winning the Razorback Invitational at 22.14m/72-07.75, just four inches off his career-best and NCAA No. 5 mark of 22.24m/72-11.75. He broke the school record in the shot put for the second week in a row, finishing third at 19.73m/64-08.75, currently No. 9 in the NCAA and No. 4 in the SEC.

Women’s Runner of the Week

 Arkansas 4×400 Relay

Amber Anning (52.19), Nickisha Pryce (51.34), Paris Peoples (51.98), and Rosey Effiong (50.89) recorded a world-leading time of 3:26.40 at the Razorback Invitational and the second fastest time ever in the month of January, only trailing the world record of 3:23.37 set by Russia on January 28, 2006. The relay time ranks as the fifth best collegiate performance ever and is No. 2 on the UA all-time list behind the 3:24.09 collegiate record the Razorbacks set in 2022 at the SEC Championships.

Women’s Field Athlete of the Week

 Lamara Distin, Texas A&M

Distin, in her first high jump competition of the year, Texas A&M’s Lamara Distin took the victory at the Razorback Invitational, clearing 6-2.75/1.90m to claim sole possession of the collegiate lead. Distin cleared her first attempt at 1.78m, 1.83m and 1.86m, before raising the bar up to 1.90, which she cleared on her second attempt before electing to call it a day. The mark equals the fifth-best mark in school history.

Women’s Freshman of the Week

 Kaila Jackson, Georgia

Jackson, toppled a five-year-old school record in the 60m at the Texas Tech Open to take second. Her time of 7.16 ranks No. 6 nationally and is the best for any freshman this year. Jackson also ran the 200m and dropped her personal best to 23.25 for fourth place. This pushed her to No. 4 on the national list and made her the No. 2 freshman nationally in the event.