FAYETTEVILLE - The Arkansas Razorbacks are celebrating standout performances from Rivaldo Marshall and Karabo Letebele, who snagged SEC weekly honors as Runner of the Week and Freshman of the Week, respectively, following their impressive showings at the Arkansas Qualifier.
Marshall shattered a long-standing 25-year-old Razorback record in the 800m with a remarkable time of 1:45.62. This wasn't just a personal best; it also set a new Jamaican national record. Interestingly, Marshall became the third Jamaican to break the national mark within a week, joining the ranks of his teammate Tyrice Taylor.
Meanwhile, Letebele, a promising 19-year-old freshman from South Africa, made waves by winning the 60m final at the Arkansas Qualifier. His time of 6.55 seconds not only set a new meet record but also placed him third on the University of Arkansas all-time list, trailing only Jordan Anthony (6.47) and current Razorback Jelani Watkins (6.52).
In a whirlwind week for Jamaican middle-distance running, Taylor had previously set a new national record in the 800m with a 1:46.11 at the Tyson Invitational, only for it to be surpassed by Navasky Anderson's 1:46.10 in France. Marshall then lowered the record to 1:45.62, becoming the first Jamaican to dip under 1:46 indoors. However, Anderson reclaimed the record with an outstanding 1:44.75 in Poland over the weekend.
Marshall's victory at the Arkansas Qualifier was particularly noteworthy as it featured the last two NCAA Indoor 800m champions. Marshall, who took the 2024 title while at Iowa, edged out Oregon’s Matthew Erickson (1:45.93), the 2025 NCAA Indoor champion.
Letebele’s stellar 6.55 not only leads all freshmen this season but also ranks eighth among collegians and sixth in the SEC. His performance broke the previous Arkansas Qualifier meet record of 6.56, set in 2024 by Mario Burke of Barbados.
After clocking 6.61 in the prelims, Letebele delivered a career-best 6.55 to outpace Benjamin Azamati (6.59) and Maximilian Thomas (6.60) in the final. Letebele's previous indoor best was 6.59, though he's run 6.53 at altitude in outdoor conditions.
These performances highlight the exceptional talent and competitive spirit within the Razorbacks' track and field program, promising an exciting season ahead.