St Vincent and the Grenadines Olympian Shafiqua Maloney produced a commanding performance to win the women’s 1500m at the Arkansas Spring Invitational on Saturday, while Joanne Reid contributed to a record-setting 4x400m relay win for the University of Arkansas.

Competing at the John McDonnell Field in Fayetteville, Maloney, a former Razorback standout and Olympic 800m finalist, clocked 4:18.27 to hold off a strong challenge from Arkansas junior Ainsley Erzen, who finished second in a personal best 4:19.69. Erzen surged down the backstretch of the final lap and briefly drew level with Maloney, but the seasoned Olympian held her form to pull away in the closing metres. Kate Strader of Pittsburg State rounded out the top three in 4:21.91.

Maloney’s winning time came within three seconds of the meet record of 4:15.61, set by fellow Arkansas alum Dominique Scott in 2016.

Meanwhile, Joanne Reid, a sophomore at Arkansas, ran the second leg on the Razorbacks’ A team in the women’s 4x400m relay, which blazed to a meet record 3:32.43. Reid contributed a 54.18-second split, following opener Britton Wilson Sharpe (53.00), and handing off to Paris Pyatt (52.35), before Nickisha Butler anchored with a 52.90 finish.

Arkansas also fielded a B team, which took second in 3:35.34, led by Arianne Sharp, Ashanti Denton, Batista, and Lanie Meeks.

The performances by Maloney and Reid added to an impressive outing for Caribbean talent at one of the NCAA’s top early-season outdoor meets.