Payton Leads Trio of PR times for Trojans in Jonesboro Friday

JONSEBORO, Ark. – Andrew Payton shaved over three seconds off his personal best time in the 1,500m, leading a trio of Little Rock runners that posted career-best times in the race as action wrapped up on the first day of the Red Wolves Open Friday.
 
Payton clocked 3:56.77 to finish sixth in the 1,500m as he topped his previous best mark by over three seconds. Nicholas Newby, who finished 12^th, ran 4:00.73 to improve nearly four seconds over his previous best time while Dominic Ward improved his top time by almost three seconds as he clocked. 4:05.34 to finish 16^th.
 
Ludovica Polini cleared the second-best mark in the pole vault in school history as her mark of 12-2 (3.71m) placed her sixth and improved upon her top mark by nearly a foot. Lauren Hurrell also posted a career-best mark, clearing 10-8.25 (3.26m) to finish 10^th.
 
In the women's 200m, Gabby Ayiteyfio finished 10^th with a season-best time of 25.76 for the freshman while Jayden Gilbert clocked 26.72 to place 19^th, also with a personal best time. Ayiteyfio also registered the ninth-best long jump mark in school history as her jump of 18-1.5 (5.52m) placed her eighth.
 
Ariana Garcia ran 4:50.86 in the women's 1,500m, placing seventh and posting a personal best time.
 
Saturday's action at the Red Wolves Open gets underway at 10 a.m. for running events and 10:30 a.m. for field events.
 
For the latest information on Little Rock Track & Field, make sure to check out LRTrojans.com. You can also find the team on social media at @LittleRockTFXC on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
 
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