Maloney, an All-American at Arkansas, inspires her small home nation at Paris Games

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The Olympic experience was a lot better for Shafiqua Maloney the second time around.

Maloney, a former University of Arkansas All-American who runs the 800 meters, competed in the Olympics for the first time in Tokyo in 2021 and ran 2 minutes, 7.89 seconds in taking seventh in her first-round heat and failing to advance.

"I got my butt tore up all the way up and down the street in Tokyo," Maloney, who trains in Fayetteville, said a few days before traveling to Paris for the 2024 Olympics. "I had a lot of nerves, and I felt in the back of my head, 'I don't belong here.'

"But it's 2024 now, and I've grown a lot mentally and physically and emotionally since then. I'm ready to show what I can do."

Maloney, 25, showed Monday on the world stage how far she had come when she finished fourth in the 800 finals at the Stade de France.

Competing for St. Vincent and the Grenadines -- a Caribbean island nation with a population of about 110,000 -- Maloney ran 1:57.66 and missed winning a bronze medal by 0.24 seconds as Kenya's Mary Moraa took third in 1:57.42.

"Of course I wanted a medal, that would have been the icing on the cake with all that I went through," Maloney said in an Arkansas news release. "It just didn't happen, but that's OK.

"I'm definitely hungry for more. I know I can definitely run faster and there's a lot to look forward to."

Maloney, who came into the Olympics ranked 27th in the world, ran for Arkansas from 2019-21 after transferring from Southern Illinois. Her top finish for the Razorbacks was third in the 800 at the NCAA Indoor Championships in 2021.

"We're very proud of Shafiqua," Arkansas women's Coach Chris Johnson said before the Olympics. "She's been very persistent and hard-working, diligent. This young lady has been through a lot, but she's persevered."

Keely Hodgkinson of Great Britain won the Olympic 800 title in 1:56.72 with Ethiopia's Tsige Duguma second in 1:57.15.

Maloney's fourth-place finish was the highest by a Caribbean athlete since 1996, when Cuba's Ana Quiros took second in Atlanta.

"I did the best I could, but it wasn't a perfect race," Maloney said. "That was the outcome, but I'm thankful and I'm healthy. I still have opportunities to race this year.

"I was trying to get out wide on the homestretch, but I still got boxed in. I was trying for the longest to get out and just move.

"When I saw a clearing, then I made my move. It wasn't enough. It was an experience and I learned a lot as always. I'll definitely be taking it forward."

Maloney was among seven athletes with Arkansas ties who competed in track and field events on Monday in Paris.

Amber Anning and Nickisha Pryce, who each won NCAA titles in the 400 as Arkansas seniors this year, cruised into Wednesday's semifinals with first-round victories.

Anning, who won the NCAA title indoors and competes for Great Britain, won her heat in 49.68. She has already won an Olympic bronze medal, anchoring Great Britain to a third-place finish in the 1,600 mixed relay on Saturday.

Pryce, who won the NCAA title outdoors, won her heat in 50.02.

"I just came out there and listened to what my coach told me," Pryce told reporters after the race in reference to Johnson. "He was like, 'Take it easy in this round and then in the semi, go hard.' So I'm waiting for Wednesday to see what I can do."

Pryce, 23, is the world leader in the 400 this year with a time of 48.57 at a Diamond League meet in London on July 20. She is competing in her first Olympics.

"It's special," she said. "I want to make my country proud. I've dreamed about this moment, and it's finally happening."

Anning, 23, ranks ninth in the world with a 49.51 time.

"It felt amazing," Anning told reporters after winning her 400 heat. "It felt really smooth, really easy and really comfortable."

Alexis Holmes, a former Kentucky All-American who trains at Arkansas and competes for the United States, also advanced to the 400 semifinals, running 50.35 to take second in her heat.

Tina Sutej, an NCAA pole vault champion at Arkansas in 2011, cleared 14 feet, 5 1/4 inches to finish in a nine-way tie for 12th place in the qualifying round. She is among 20 vaulters advancing to Wednesday's final.

Sutej, 35, is competing in her fourth Olympics for Slovenia. Her highest finish was fifth at the Tokyo Games in 2021.

Former Razorbacks Roje Stona and Ralford Mullings, both competing for Jamaica, advanced to the discus final.

Stona, an All-American for Arkansas this year with a second-place finish in the shot put at the NCAA Indoor meet in his final collegiate competition, threw the discus 214-4 on Monday to rank sixth.

Mullings, who competed at Arkansas in 2023 and transferred to Oklahoma for the 2024 season, threw 213-10 to finish seventh in the qualifying round.

Jamaica had three athletes advance to the discus final with Traves Smikle's throw of 216-3 ranking fifth. It's the first time one country had three place among the top eight in the discus qualifying round at the Olympics since the U.S. in 1984.

Brittany Brown, a former Iowa All-American who trains at Arkansas, won her semifinal heat of the 200 in 22.12 to advance to Tuesday's final.

Other athletes with Arkansas ties competing Tuesday are former NCAA champions Carey McLeod and Wayne Pinnock in the long jump final for Jamaica; former Razorback All-American Nikki Hiltz in the first round of the 1,500; former Arkansas All-American Chris Bailey in the 400 semifinals; Tara Davis-Woodhall, who trains at Arkansas, in the long jump qualifying round; and Anna Cockrell, who trains at Arkansas, in the 400 hurdles.

Maloney's Paris Olympics are done, but she's made a lasting impression with her improbable run to the final -- especially back home.

On Sunday night, St. Vincents and the Grenadines' Minister of Sports Orande Brewster issued a public address in support of Maloney going into the 800 final.

"I speak to you this evening, and I hope this message will reach you all the way in Paris," Brewster said, talking directly to Maloney. "I want to let you know that we, the people of St. Vincents and the Grenadines and by extension the Caribbean, are rallying around you.

"Regardless of what the result is, you have indeed captured our hearts and our minds."

Taliyah Brooks, a former Arkansas NCAA champion who will compete for the U.S. in the heptathlon in Paris on Thursday and Friday, said she has come to admire Maloney.

"I love Fifi," Brooks said, using Maloney's nickname. "We've been in the same training group for a long time, and it's been really cool to see how she's progressed in the sport and matured as a person and as an athlete throughout her years.

"I think there's something to be said for someone who comes from somewhere so small that a lot of people don't even know exists, that can come here to the U.S. and do so many great things."

During the Olympics opening ceremonies, Maloney was the flag bearer for St. Vincents and the Grenadines.

"It's one of the smallest countries out there, but it has a special place in my heart," Maloney said before going to Paris. "To be able to represent my country and help put it on the map, it means a lot."

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