Advancement for Nikki Hiltz in Olympic Games 1,500m

Saint-Denis, France (arkansasrazorbacks.com) – Arkansas alum Nikki Hiltz started off the day inside Stade de France advancing to the 1,500m semifinal during the morning session while Tara Davis-Woodhall earned an automatic qualification to the long jump final with a leap of 22 feet, 7.75 inches (6.90).

Additional professionals who train in Fayetteville highlighted the evening session as Brittany Brown became an Olympic bronze medalist in the 200m with a time of 22.20, into a -0.6 wind, and Anna Cockrell advanced to the final of the 400m hurdles in 52.90.

Brown, the 2019 World Championships 200m silver medalist, earned her first Olympic medal in finishing behind fellow American Gabby Thomas (21.83) and Paris Olympic 100m champion Julien Alfred of Saint Lucia (22.08).

This marks the first time since 2012 that the United States has finished 1-3 in an Olympic 200m final when it was accomplished by Allyson Felix and Carmelita Jeter.

In a tight finish behind Brown were the British tandem of Dina Asher-Smith (22.22) and Daryll Netia (22.23). Nigeria’s Favour Ofili placed sixth in 22.24 while the third American in the race,  McKenzie Long, ran 22.42 for seventh.

The 0.2 difference between Brown and Asher-Smith was the fourth closest margin between bronze and fourth place at an Olympics. Three times – 1972, 1984, and 2008 – the margin was 0.01.

Hiltz finished third in the second heat of the opening round with a time of 4:00.42 behind Diribe Welteji of Ethiopia (3:59.73) and Great Britain’s Georgia Bell (4:00.29). Hiltz advanced to the semifinal with the 10th best time overall.

Davis-Woodhall led long jump qualifying over Italy’s Larissa Iapichino 22-6.5 (6.87) and Germany’s Malaika Mihambo, the defending Olympic champion and two-time world champion, who overcame two fouls to generate a leap of 22-6.25 (6.86).

Cockrell finished as runner-up in the third semifinal heat behind a 52.57 for Femke Bol of the Netherlands. Cockrell’s 52.90 ranked third best overall with Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone the overall leader at 52.13.

Wednesday’s morning session includes the first round of the 100m hurdles as Arkansas alums Janeek Brown and Ackera Nugent race in the event along with Cindy Sember of Great Britain, who trains in Fayetteville.

The evening session features Tina Šutej in the 20-person pole vault final.