BIRMINGHAM – SEC honors were awarded to a pair of Razorbacks this week with Romaine Beckford named Field Athlete of the Week while John Kendricks earned Freshman of the Week.
Beckford set an indoor best of 7-5.25 (2.27) in winning the high jump at the Razorback Invitational prior to attempt the Olympic qualifying standard of 7-7.75 (2.33). Beckford is the current collegiate leader and his mark ranks equal sixth in the world for the 2024 season.
The performance by Beckford, the defending 2023 NCAA indoor & outdoor champion, moved him to No. 4 on the Arkansas all-time list and No. 3 on the Jamaican all-time indoor list with the equal No. 4 performance.
Germaine Mason holds the Jamaican indoor record of 7-6.5 (2.30), which was set in 2003 and Christoff Bryan ranks second with a 7-5.75 (2.28) from 2015.
Kendricks established three career best marks while competing among a stellar field of pole vaulters, which included the current world leader in KC Lightfoot and collegiate leader in Kentucky’s Keaton Daniel.
Clearing 17-8.5 (5.40) to place fourth in the competition and finish as the second collegian moved Kendricks to equal No. 5 on the Arkansas all-time list. Kendricks attempted 18-0.5 (5.50) to finish his day.
The top freshman on the 2024 collegiate list, Kendricks currently ranks equal 15th among all collegians and is second best to Daniel in the SEC.
Arriving at Arkansas with an indoor best of 16-5.25 (5.01) and an outdoor best of 17-1 (5.21), Kendricks surpassed both with a trio of career best heights during the competition. He navigated the first three heights – 16-2.75 (4.95), 16-8.75 (5.10), and 17-2.75 (5.25) – on first attempts. Then a second attempt was required in clearing the 17-8.5 bar.
