LSU's Armstrong elevates to No. 2 all-time collegiate women’s indoor competitor at 7.81, with Cunningham running 7.42 to improve to No. 3 in NCAA men’s history; Sant-Price runs 7.04 in women’s 60-meter dash to equal No. 10 American female performer, Davis triumphs in long jump at 22-5.25 (6.84m)

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK. – Alia Armstrong and Trey Cunningham produced one of the greatest one-night hurdling showcases in collegiate history Friday and Marybeth Sant-Price delivered the two fastest 60-meter times of her career to elevate among the top 10 all-time American competitors at the Tyson Invitational at Randal Tyson Track Center.

RESULTS | INTERVIEWS

Armstrong, an LSU sophomore, ran a lifetime-best 7.81 seconds to pull away from Florida’s Grace Stark (8.00) over the final three barriers, elevating to the No. 2 all-time collegiate performer in the indoor 60-meter hurdles and achieving the No. 3 performance in NCAA history.

Only Brianna McNeal, who ran 7.78 and 7.79 for Clemson in 2013, has run faster all-time in collegiate competition than Armstrong, who equaled the No. 2 mark in the world this year by fellow American Keni Harrison behind Jamaican Danielle Williams (7.75).

Armstrong, who entered the race equal to the No. 4 all-time collegiate athlete with Stark and former LSU teammate Tonea Marshall at 7.86, surpassed Paula Salmon of North Carolina A&T, who ran 7.83 earlier Friday to place runner-up behind Williams at the Tiger Paw Invitational at Clemson.

Armstrong also matched Jackie Joyner-Kersee as the No. 9 indoor performer in American history.

Cunningham, a Florida State senior, continued his pursuit of the men’s 60 hurdles collegiate record and moved one spot closer Friday by winning in a personal-best 7.42 to ascend to No. 3 all-time, trailing only Florida’s Grant Holloway (7.35) and Kentucky’s Daniel Roberts (7.41).

Cunningham improved on his No. 2 global performance this season, behind Holloway (7.37) at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix on Feb. 6 at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island.

Cunningham also improved to the No. 13 all-time American indoor performer, after running 6.67 in the open 60-meter dash prelims and 7.54 in the 60-meter hurdles semifinals. Eric Edwards, Jr., of LSU was runner-up in the 60 hurdles in 7.60.

Sant-Price prevailed against Jamaican Olympic medalist Shericka Jackson (7.12) in the women’s Open 60-meter final by clocking a personal-best 7.04 to improve to No. 2 in the world this year, trailing only Poland’s Ewa Swoboda (7.00).

Sant-Price, 26, relied on a strong start to run 7.06 in the semifinals, but pulled away from Jackson in the last 20 meters of the final to match Carlette Guidry and Mikiah Brisco as the No. 10 indoor competitor in American history.

Tara Davis also elevated to No. 2 in the world this year in the women’s invitational long jump, capping her victory with a sixth-round leap of 22-5.25 (6.84m) after taking the lead for good with a second-round effort of 22-4.25 (6.81m).

Only Serbia’s Ivana Vuleta, who jumped 22-5.75 (6.85m) on Feb. 5, has a better performance globally this season than Davis.

Florida’s Jasmine Moore was the top collegiate athlete, finishing runner-up to Davis with a fourth-round mark of 21-5.25 (6.53m). Fellow American Madisen Richards took third at 21-4 (6.50m), with Tennessee’s Charisma Taylor finishing fourth at 21-2 (6.45m).

Taylor also finished fifth in the 60 hurdles final in 8.10, following an 8.05 semifinal effort.

LaQuan Nairn, a former Arkansas standout representing the Bahamas, opened the men’s invitational long jump with a 26-7.25 (8.11m) performance and never relinquished control to secure the victory.

Tennessee junior Carey McLeod, representing Jamaica, was runner-up at 26-5.75 (8.07m), with Arkansas freshman John Baker jumping 26-3.50 (8.01m) to take third.

Elien Vekemans of Arkansas, a sophomore representing Belgium, won the women’s pole vault with a personal-best 14-5.25 (4.40m) clearance on her second attempt.

Vekemans, who improved to the No. 2 all-time Belgian indoor competitor, passed at 14-2.75 (4.34m) while in third place. But despite Ole Miss teammates Samara McConnell and Lyndsey Reed both clearing lifetime-best heights at 14-2.75, Vekemans responded with the clutch performance at 14-5.25, before missing three opportunities at 14-9 (4.50m).

Alabama junior Bobby Colantonio won the men’s weight throw with a second-round effort of 77-10.25 (23.73m), the second-best performance of his career. Colantonio remains No. 2 among collegiate competitors this season at 79-2.75 (24.15m).

Iowa freshman Noah McKiver ran a personal-best 45.39 in the men’s 400 meters to pull away from a loaded group of challengers in the final section. Florida’s Ryan Willie (45.83) and Champion Allison (45.92), who ran in earlier heats, were the only other athletes under 46 seconds.

McKiver, who improved from his 45.78 effort Jan. 29 at the Razorback Invitational at the same venue, ranks third this season among collegiate competitors behind North Carolina A&T’s Randolph Ross (44.83) and Georgia’s Elijah Godwin (45.38).

American Shamier Little, an adidas professional, won the women’s 400 meters in 51.91. LSU’s Amber Anning, a British athlete, triumphed in her section in 52.07 to finish second overall as the top collegiate competitor in the field.

Iowa’s Kalen Walker triumphed in the men’s collegiate 60-meter dash final in 6.61. Tennessee’s Favour Ashe of Nigeria had run 6.52 in the semifinals to lead all qualifiers entering the final.

LSU’s Favour Ofili, representing Nigeria, edged Arkansas’ Jada Baylark by a 7.25 to 7.26 margin in the women’s collegiate 60-meter dash final.

Cindy Sember of Great Britain held off American Christina Clemons by an 8.14 to 8.16 margin in the women’s Open 60 hurdles final.

Australia’s Chris Douglas earned the win in the men’s Open 60 hurdles final in 7.64, with Jamaica’s Nigel Ellis emerging victorious in the men’s Open 60 race in 6.90.

Florida freshman Malcolm Clemons won the men’s unseeded long jump with a sixth-round effort of 25-7.25 (7.80m).

Nebraska’s Darby Thomas and LSU’s Morgan Smalls both had marks of 20-9 (6.32m) in the women’s unseeded long jump.

Missouri junior Sydney Oberdiek won the women’s weight throw with a fifth-round performance of 63-8.25 (19.41m).

Lexington Hilton of Arkansas prevailed in the men’s 3,000 meters in 7:59.25, with Missouri’s Melissa Menghini winning the women’s 3,000 in 9:29.14.