5000 Miles Away, Fellow Razorback Sets World Record

Arkansas sprinter brings home gold and becomes world champion

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The announcer curse is real. It was on full display on the opening night of the 2023 World Athletics Championships, held in Budapest, Hungary.  In the mixed 4x400 relay, Razorback sophomore sprinter Rosey Effiong and Team USA ran down a formidable Dutch team in world record time to bring home gold.

"Femke Bol (Dutch Anchor), the second fastest 400-meter hurdler ever, this is not going to be close," NBC commentator Ato Boldon said.

"Hard to believe that she (Bol) will give this lead back for the Netherlands," fellow commentator Sanya Richards-Ross added. 

Both commentators spoke too soon. Bol tripped coming down the final homestretch allowing Effiong, Matthew Boiling, Justin Richardson, and Alexis Holmes to win gold in a world record time of 3:08.80.

Effiong has amassed an impressive resume since arriving on campus in 2020. She won gold at the SEC Championships in the same event in 2021 and earned First-team NCAA All-American honors. 

25 other athletes with Razorback ties will compete in the championships, which will run through Aug. 27. 

"We have a big crew of Razorbacks out here," Effiong said in a press conference after the race. "If they could do it, I could do it. They're here supporting me just like I'm supporting them." 

Effiong ran a 50.38 in her leg of the race, out splitting all six other runners that finished the race during the second leg of the relay. 

Effiong handed the baton off to fellow SEC Champion Matthew Boiling from Georgia in second place, just behind the Netherlands, who ran a 45.13. 

Anchor Alexis Holmes, a recent Kentucky Wildcat graduate, ran a 48.82 to bring home the title and set the new world record in dramatic fashion as Bol fell with about 10 meters to go. 

Effiong will look to add more hardware later in the championships as she is also entered as a possible participant in the women's 4x400 relay. Prelims for that race will take place on Aug. 26. Coverage of the championships can be found live across NBC networks and on Peacock. 

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