LITTLE ROCK TWILIGHT

The UA Little Rock Trojans Outdoor Track and Field home meet was April 7, 2023 at the Coleman Sports Complex, and the team swept up awards, places and school records, garnering 20 gold medals throughout the two-day meet.

After a late start on the 7th, the team settled in and had a successful morning, followed by a Senior Day celebration of the graduating team members where they walked with their families across the field, had a biography read about them and were presented with an art print made from a photo of them in action.

Sophomore Landri Schreier claimed three gold medals with three marks in the top five in school history. Senior Troy McKnight added two gold medals. During the women’s 4x100m relay, the relay team of Schreier, Gabby Ayiteyfio, Takia Palmer and Maliyah Holland posted the fifthfastest time in school history at 45.98 seconds.

Schreier then ran an 11.74 time in the 100m dash, the thirdfastest time in school history, and Freshman Palmer finished second with the ninth-fastest time in school history at 11.92. Junior Holland finished third with a time of 12.03.

McKnight ran a 10.34 in the 100m dash, gaining sixth place in the school record. TaVieon Neal finished second with a time of 10.43. McKnight then ran a 20.98 in the 200m dash to claim his second first place.

In the 800m, junior Nicholas Newby won the race at 1:52.88 while junior Andrew Payton finished second at 1:52.95. Sophomore Juan Garza won the 400m with a time of 48.51 and junior Spencer Cardinal ran a 3:59.28 and won the 1500m. The 4x400m relay team consisting of Frankie Grey, Teylen Patterson, Newby and Garza also won.

In the 400m hurdles, Tyler Moore won the race with a time of 53.23 while junior Cogan DeRousselle’s time of 14.47 placed him in second. Junior Alexia Allen won the 400m women’s hurdles with a time of 1:03.89.

Senior Johnathan Jones won the high jump at the Little Rock Invitational for the third consecutive year. Freshman Deshawn Roberts placed third in school history with a second place finish in the high jump. Redshirt junior Jordan Wallace finished third and freshman Falon Short finished fourth.

Wallace also won the triple jump and Senior Ryan Curington won the long jump.

The Trojan women swept the podium in the long jump, led by Senior Jaelyn Tucker, who jumped 5.82m, while senior Bria Allen placed second and sophomore Kendall King placed third.

The team also swept the shot put as junior Janae Largins’ placed fourth in school history. Sophomore Aaliyah Mathis finished second. Sophomore Desmond Frazier won the men’s shot put.

Senior Brenna Harris won the javelin throw and also finished third in the high jump.

Sophomore Ludovica Polini won and set a new facility record in the pole vault. Senior Alison

Stephens won the discus throw. Junior Matilda Horton won and set the Coleman Sports Complex record in the 10,000m on the evening of the 6th with a time of 37:24.09.

Sophomore Allison Stirgall won the women’s hammer throw and recorded the third-best mark in school history.

In the men’s 10,000m, junior Aaron Soltmann finished second as his time of 32:27.83. Sophomore Joel Allen followed in third.

All in all, this was a great outing for the Trojans at our home meet. As the team travels to conference May 10-14, this meet surely gave them some confidence to move forward.

BY CHLOE MCGEHEE