Record weekend for Shawnti Jackson, Shafiqua Maloney

A pair of national records highlighted weekend track and field action for Arkansas as incoming Razorback freshman Shawnti Jackson won a pair of gold medals at the Pan American U20 Championships while alum Shafiqua Maloney improved her Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 800m national record in Memphis.

Racing in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, Jackson anchored the United States 4 x 100m relay to an American record victory of 42.88 on Saturday evening. Then on Sunday, she established a meet record in winning the 200m title.

Jackson won the 200m final in 22.35 (1.6 wind) to defeat USA teammate Elise Cooper (22.80) and Canadian Emily Martin (23.75). The Pan Am U20 meet record performance by Jackson bettered the previous record of 22.70 set in 2011 by Anthonique Strachan of the Bahamas.

Jackson’s performance ranks her No. 8 on the World U20 all-time list as she moves to No. 3 performer and No. 5 performance on the US U20 all-time list. On the US all-time high school list, Jackson is No. 3 behind Allyson Felix (22.11A) from 2003 and Adaejah Hodge (22.33i) set in the 2023 indoor season.