Razorback freshman Peter Maru breaks Arkansas 5,000m record in debut
FAYETTEVILLE – Ugandan distance runner Peter Maru made his Razorback debut special with an Arkansas school record in the 5,000m as he placed third in 13 minutes, 17.86 seconds at the David Hemery Valentine Invitational hosted by Boston University on Saturday.
Having led a majority of the race, Maru finished behind a pair of professionals in Ahmed Muhumed (13:16.99) and Anthony Rotich (13:17.52) while finishing as the top collegian in the field.
Maru’s splits in his school record race included 2:37.26, 5:17.29, 7:57.58, 10:43.25 through 4,000m. On the last 200m lap, Muhumed split 26.68 with Rotich at 27.57 and Maru closing with a 28.15.
The previous 5,000m school record of 13:24.32 was set by Patrick Kiprop in 2023. Kiprop finished 15th in the same section with Maru with a time of 13:27.55.
Maru’s time is the eighth mark added to the collegiate all-time top 20 list this indoor season. He is No. 18, moving onto the all-time list ahead of Oregon’s Galen Rupp.
Ben Shearer, also racing in Boston at the Boston College Eagle Elite Invitational, moved to No. 5 on the UA all-time list in the 3,000m with a time of 7:46.96 that placed him third. Kirami Yego finished fifth in the race with a career best of 7:51.56 that just missed making the UA all-time top 10.
During Saturday’s portion of the Tyson Invitational, Romaine Beckford remained undefeated this season in the high jump as three entrants cleared 7-3 (2.21) while a pair of Razorback teammates cleared 7-1 (2.16) in tying for fourth place.
With first attempts made on three heights in the competition, Beckford held the edge as he was joined at 7-3 by professional Vernon Turner as well as Devin Loudermike of Kansas.
Loudermilk settled for third place with three misses at 7-4.5 (2.25) as Beckford and Turner passed and each had three misses at 7-5.75 (2.28).
Kason O’Riley and Andrew Hughes both had first attempt clearances at the first three heights they navigated and tied for fourth place when neither was able to get over 7-3. It was a career best height for Hughes, who had a best of 7-0 outdoors.
Arkansas placed third in the 4 x 400m relay with a time of 3:04.28, which ranks No. 8 on the UA all-time list. The Razorback crew included Connor Washington (46.51), TJ Tomlyanovich (45.79), William Spencer (46.74), and Steven McElroy (45.25).
Arizona State produced a world-leading victory in 3:02.73 over Florida’s 3:02.78.
Rojé Stona had a season best shot put of 61-4.25 (18.70) to place third behind a 64-1.75 (19.55) for Nebraska’s Kevin Shubert with LSU’s John Meyer runner-up at 61-4.75 (18.71).
Reuben Reina just missed another sub-4 minute mile as runner-up in 4:00.63 while Elias Schreml placed third in 4:01.79. Iowa State’s Silas Winders won the mile in 3:59.88.
Placing fifth in the Invitational section of the 800m, Riley Wells produced a career best of 1:48.05. Racing in the other section of the 800m were Ethan Carney (1:52.79), Isaac Carney (1:53.67), and Luke George (1:54.07).