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Razorbacks’ Olympic Hopefuls Headed to Paris

by | Jul 24, 2024 | Alumni, Events, Features, National Recognition, Student Success

From top left: Bagby from 1924; Anning, Bailey, Beckford, Brooks and J. Brown; second row: K. Brown, Echavarria, Fassi, Glenn and Hibbert; third row: Hiltz, Hopkin, Jallow, Lawson and Lopez; fourth row: Maloney, McLeod, Nugent, Owens-Delerme and Pinnock; and bottom: Plum, Pryce, Roberson, Stona, Šutej and Whittaker.

A total of 25 current, former and future Razorback athletes and one former graduate student will represent nine countries in the Paris Summer Olympics, following in the 100-year-old footsteps of Herman Bagby, the first Razorback to qualify for an Olympics and, coincidentally, also the last time Paris hosted an Olympiad.

Known by his fellow Pine Bluff residents as the “Arkansas Flyer,” Bagby competed in track and field as well as football while at Arkansas. He was chosen as a U.S. alternate for the decathlon in the Paris Olympics of 1924. Learn more about Herman Bagby.

The Opening Ceremony for the 2024 Paris Olympics will occur along the banks of the Seine on Friday, July 26. Here’s the full Olympic competition schedule.

RAZORBACKS IN PARIS

All competition times listed are Central Daylight Time. Check network listings for replay times.

ATHLETICS (TRACK AND FIELD)

For a number of the Olympic running events with qualifying rounds, a “repechage” round has been added to the Olympics this year that allows any runner who didn’t qualify for advancement in the first round to get a second chance at advancing.

image of jamaican flag100-Meter Hurdles, Women’s — Alumna Ackera Nugent, the 2023 NCAA champion, won the Jamaica National Trials in the 100-meter hurdles with a national record time of 12.28 seconds, and Janeek Brown, who won the NCAA championship in 2019, finished third. Both will represent Jamaica at the Olympics alongside several other track and field Razorbacks from Jamaica. Round one of the women’s 100-meter hurdles begins at 3:15 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7.

image of American flag400-Meter Race, Men’s — Chris Bailey, a Razorback alumnus who still trains at Fayetteville, finished third in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials to secure a spot in Paris. First round of the men’s Olympic 400 begins at 12:05 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4.

image of Jamaican flagimage of United Kingdom flag400-Meter Race, Women’s — Nickisha Pryce, the Jamaican national and collegiate record holder, easily won the 400-meter race at the Jamaica championships, and senior Amber Anning won the 400-meter race in a championship record at the UK Athletics Championships to represent Great Britain at the Olympics. Round one of the women’s 400-meter race will start at 4:55 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5.

800-Meter Race, Women’s — Current Razorback Sanu Jallow, who just finished her sophomore year, will represent her home country of The Gambia, and alumna Shafiqua Maloney, who was flag bearer during the 2021 opening ceremonies for her native St. Vincent and the Grenadines, will return to compete in the women’s 800-meter run. Round 1 of the women’s 800-meter begins at 12:45 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2.

image of American flag1,500-Meter Race, Women’s — Alumna Nikki Hiltz won the U.S. championship in the 1,500-meter race in a U.S. Olympic Team Trials record speed of 3 minutes, 55.33 seconds to qualify for the U.S. Olympic team headed to Paris. Round one of the 1,500-meter women’s competition will start at 3:05 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6.

Decathlon, Men’s — Ayden Owens-Delerme was a double NCAA champion in 2022 with titles in the heptathlon and decathlon and was named field athlete of the year. He represents Puerto Rico at the Olympics. The first event in the men’s decathlon, the 100-meter race, begins at 3:05 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2.

image of jamaican flagDiscus, Men’s — Razorbacks Roje Stona qualified for the discus throw in the 2024 Olympics and will represent Jamaica. The men’s discus throw qualification round will start at 3:10 a.m. on Monday Aug. 5.

image of American flagHeptathlon, Women’s — Taliyah Brooks, a Razorback alumna who still trains in Fayetteville, finished third in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials with a career-high score of 6,408 points. While competing for Arkansas, she won the NCAA pentathlon championship. Olympic competition in the heptathlon begins at 3:05 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, with the 100-meter hurdles followed with the high jump, shot put 200-meter race the same day. The long jump, javelin throw and 800-meter race come the next day.

image of jamaican flagHigh Jump, Men’s — Romaine Beckford, a senior this year who swept NCAA high jump titles indoors and outdoors, finished third at the Jamaican Championships and will compete in the Olympics for Jamaica. The Olympic men’s high jump qualifying round begins at 3:05 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, with finals on Aug. 10.

image of American flagHigh Jump, Women’s — Rachel Glenn, a red-shirt sophomore and two-time NCAA champion, will represent the United States in the high jump. She finished second in the U.S. Olympic Team Trials with a jump of 6 feet, 4½ inches after equaling the collegiate record indoors with a height of 6 feet, 6¾ inches. The Olympic women’s high jump qualifying round begins at 3:15 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2, with finals on Aug. 4.

image of American flagLong Jump, Men’s — Jarrion Lawson, a Razorback alumnus who is a five-time NCAA champion, finished fourth at the 2016 Olympics. His third-place finish at this year’s U.S. Olympic trials sends him back to the Olympics. Razorback alumni Carey McLeod and Wayne Pinnock will represent Jamaica in the long jump through qualifications at the Jamaica National Trials. The men’s long jump qualification round starts at 4 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 4.

Pole Vault, Women’s — Tina Šutej, who won the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championship in 2011 and finished fifth in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, was named to a fourth Olympic Games representing Slovenia in the pole vault. Women’s pole vault qualification begins at 3:40 a.m. Monday, Aug. 5.

image of American flagRelays, Women’s — Freshman Kaylyn Brown and incoming transfer Isabella Whittaker qualified for the U.S. Olympic team’s relay pool, a group of six runners who are available to run in the U.S. team’s relay races.

image of jamaican flagTriple Jump, Men’s — Razorback alumnus Jaydon Hibbert is among the world’s best in this event as a 19-year-old prodigy and will compete in the Paris Olympiad. The qualifying round for the men’s triple jump begins at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7.

BASKETBALL

image of American flagBasketball 5×5, Women’s — Gold medalist Kelsey Plum, a former graduate assistant for the Razorbacks women’s basketball team, is part of this year’s U.S. women’s Olympic basketball team. She helped America win the first Olympic gold medal in 3×3 basketball when the sport was introduced in 2021. She currently plays for the Las Vegas Aces in the WNBA, which won national championships in 2022 and 2023. The United States will play Japan at 2 p.m. Monday, July 29, for their first round game as part of Group C.

GOLF

image of Colombia flagGolf, Men’s — Former Razorback Nico Echavarria will represent his native Colombia at the 2024 Olympics. Echavarria was an All-American during the 2013 season. The first round for men’s golf begins at 2 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 1.

image of Mexico flagGolf, Women’s — Alumnae Maria Fassi and Gaby Lopez will return to Olympic competition this summer. Fassi, the 2019 NCAA champion, also competed in the 2021 Olympics in Tokyo. Lopez was runner-up for the 2015 NCAA Championship and is playing in her third Olympics. Both represent Mexico in the Olympic competition. The first round of women’s golf begins at 2 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7.

GYMNASTICS

image of American flagGymastics, Women’s — Joscelyn Roberson, who will start classes in the fall and compete for the U of A Gymbacks, has been chosen as a traveling alternate athlete for the U.S. women’s gymnastics team going to the Olympics. Roberson, who trains with Simone Biles, placed sixth overall, tying for first on the beam and finishing fourth on vault and floor exercise during U.S. trials. The top five finishers were assigned for competition, but if one of them has to withdraw before the start of team qualification, Roberson could still see action. Qualifying rounds begin at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, July 28.

SWIMMING

image of United Kingdom flag50-Meter Free, 100-Meter Free and Relays, Women’s — Anna Hopkin, who competed for the Razorbacks and earned a master’s degree in kinesiology at the U of A, returns to the Olympics as a member of Great Britain’s team. She was part of the British relay team that won the gold medal in 2021 and is qualified to compete in the 50-meter and 100-meter races as well as part of Great Britain’s 2024 relay team.

CONTENDERS WHO TRAIN AT FAYETTEVILLE

In addition to current Razorback athletes and alumni, the following 10 competitors with ties to the U of A or Fayetteville also qualified:

  • Brittany Brown, a professional runner who trains in Fayetteville, qualified for the U.S. team in the women’s 200-meter race.
  • Anna Cockrell, who trains at Arkansas, placed second in the women’s 400-meter hurdles to qualify for the American team headed to the Olympics.
  • Ryan Crouser, a volunteer coach for the Razorbacks, qualified for his third Olympic games in the men’s shot put with a throw of 74 feet and 11¼ inches. He is a two-time gold medalist and holds the world record in shotput.
  • Tara Davis-Woodhall, who competed for Georgia and Texas as a collegian and now trains in Fayetteville, qualified for the Olympics by winning the women’s long jump at the U.S. National Championships. Her husband, Hunter Woodhall, competed for the Razorbacks and was a 200-meter silver medalist in the 2016 Paralympics and two-time bronze medalist in 2016 and 2021.
  • Alexis Holmes, a professional runner training in Fayetteville, qualified for the women’s 400-meter race and the U.S. 4 by 400-meter relay team.
  • Andranette Knight, who trains in Fayetteville, will be part of Jamaica’s relay pool for the women’s 4 by 400-meter relay.
  • Shamier Little, an Arkansas volunteer assistant and two-time silver medalist in the World Championships, was named to the United States relay pool.
  • Jah-Nhai Perinchief, who trains at Fayetteville, will represent Bermuda in the men’s triple jump.
  • Cindy Sember, who trains in Fayetteville, will represent Great Britain in the women’s 100-meter hurdles.
  • Gianna Woodruff will represent Panama for a second time in the Olympic Games. She placed seventh in the 400-meter hurdles at the Tokyo Olympics.

PREVIOUS OLYMPIC MEDALISTS

U of A athletes, students and alumni have won 24 Olympic medals through the years:

2021
Anna Hopkin – 4×100 Mixed Medley Swim Relay – Gold
Kelsey Plum – 3×3 Basketball – Gold
Hunter Woodhall – Paralympics 400-meter Dash – Bronze

2016
Taylor Ellis-Watson – 4×400 Relay – Gold
Omar McLeod – 110-meter Hurdles – Gold
Sandi Morris – Pole Vault – Silver
Veronica Campbell-Brown – 4×100 Relay – Silver

2012
Veronica Campbell-Brown – 100 meters – Bronze
Veronica Campbell-Brown – 4×100 Relay – Silver

2008
Veronica Campbell-Brown – 200 meters – Gold

2004
Veronica Campbell-Brown – 100 meters – Bronze
Veronica Campbell-Brown – 200 meters – Gold
Veronica Campbell-Brown – 4×100 Relay – Gold
Deena Drossin Kastor – Marathon – Bronze
Matt Hemingway – High Jump – Silver

2000
Veronica Campbell-Brown – 4×100 Relay – Silver

1996
Calvin Davis – 400-meter Hurdles – Bronze

1992
Mike Conley Sr. – Triple Jump – Gold

1984
Joe Kleine – Basketball – Gold
Alvin Robertson – Basketball – Gold
Mike Conley Sr. – Triple Jump – Silver

1948
Clyde Scott – 110-meter Hurdles – Silver
Gordon Carpenter – Basketball – Gold
R.C. Pitts – Basketball – Gold

This story also appeared in the University of Arkansas News publication.