JONESBORO, Ark. (KAIT) – For the second week in a row, average gas prices in Arkansas dropped slightly.

According to GasBuddy.com’s survey of 1,826 stations in the Natural State, prices fell 4 cents per gallon to an average of $3.10.

That’s 4.4 cents less than a month ago but 0.9 cents higher than last year.

The cheapest station was priced at $2.84 on Sunday, while the most expensive was $4.39.

Meanwhile, the national average fell 3.2 cents a gallon in the last week to $3.58.

“While pump prices haven’t exactly plummeted, we’ve seen the average price of gasoline drop in a majority of states over the last week as refineries finish maintenance and ramp up output of products like gasoline,” said Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy.

De Haan said the future looks bright as the nation closes in on Memorial Day.

“I expect most Americans will see prices fall before the holiday weekend, and I’m optimistic the trend could extend into June and beyond,” he said. “I’m excited to say it does appear that, for now, the worst is behind us.”

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FAYETTEVILLE — The collegiate record list for the top times in the women’s 400 meters reads like a University of Arkansas roster.

Arkansas has four of the top five collegiate marks all-time in the 400 after a 1-2-3 finish by senior Nickisha Price, freshman Kaylyn Brown and senior Amber Anning at the SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Saturday at Florida’s Pressly Stadium in Gainesville, Fla.

Pryce won in 49.32 followed by Brown (49.47) and Anning (49.51). Arkansas senior Rosey Effiong (50.57) took fifth.

Former Razorback Britton Wilson holds the collegiate record at 49.13 she ran last year’s SEC Championships.

Wilson is followed on the all-time list by former Texas standout Rhasidat Adeleke (49.20), Pryce, Brown and Anning.

“It kind of leaves you awestruck,” Arkansas Coach Chris Johnson said of the Razorbacks’ rankings in the 400. “Obviously you hope and dream for it, and you know they’re capable of it.

“But doing it on that day in this atmosphere [at the SEC meet], it’s quite difficult.

“These young ladies are special, they’re running well.”

Pryce and Anning also took seventh and eighth in the 200 to help the Razorbacks score 110 points and finish second to LSU, which won with 126.

Arkansas was going for a second consecutive conference title outdoors after sweeping SEC and NCAA titles indoors earlier this year.

“Obviously we performed well,” Johnson said. “This is a tough conference, and LSU is a fantastic team.

“In some events we did well, extremely well. In some events we missed the mark. That’s a part of competition and a part of being in a very tough conference.

“We’re disappointed we couldn’t pull off another win, but that comes with the territory. I think we’ll learn from this championship and figure out a way to get better going into the regional meet.”

Brown became the fastest U.S. 19-year-old ever. She just missed the 19-year-old world record in the 400 of 49.42 run by Germany’s Grit Breuer at the 1991 World Championships.

“This young lady is special,” Johnson said of Brown. “She’s bought in. She’s gotten better.

“She’s had her little nicks here and there, but she’s continued to be persistent and work hard. Work hard on her treatment, work hard in the weight room.

“She’s growing, so there’s more to come there, and we’re very proud of her.

“But there’s a lot more to go, and we’re looking forward to her staying healthy and competing at the highest levels.”

The Razorbacks scored in 13 events, including freshman Paityn Poe taking second in the 10,000 and third in the 5,000.

“I think the coaching staff did a fantastic job,” Johnson said. “They got the kids prepared.

“We were deep in some areas, and thin in some other areas, and obviously we’ve got to take a look at that and see what we can do to be better. We’ll figure those things out.”

FAYETTEVILLE — Bogle Park will once again be the site of postseason softball.

Arkansas (36-16) was announced Sunday night as the No. 12 national seed and will host Arizona, Villanova and Southeast Missouri State at the double-elimination NCAA Fayetteville Regional.

It is the fourth consecutive season Arkansas has been selected as a regional host. There will be no shortage of familiarity for the Razorbacks against their opposition.

Arkansas will open with a game against the regional’s fourth-seeded team Southeast Missouri State (28-24) on Friday at 7:30 p.m. on ESPN+. SEMO was champion of the Ohio Valley Conference. 

The Razorbacks defeated SEMO twice — 5-0 and 6-5 (8 innings) — in the Wooo Pig Classic earlier this season.

Arizona (34-16-1), the regional’s second-seeded team, hosted the Razorbacks at the Bear Down Fiesta in February. The Razorbacks and Wildcats split a pair of games, both by a 3-2 score.

Arizona will play Villanova (31-22), the Big East Tournament champions, in the regional opener at 5 p.m. on ESPN+.

The regional’s winner will be paired against the Stillwater Regional winner, which is hosted by No. 5 overall seed Oklahoma State and also includes Kentucky, Michigan and Northern Colorado. 

Should Oklahoma State (44-10) win its regional, the Cowgirls would host the Fayetteville Regional winner.

It is the Razorbacks’ seventh consecutive NCAA Tournament berth under ninth-year coach Courtney Deifel, which exceeds the program’s six total appearance prior to her tenure.

Arkansas had not hosted a regional prior to Deifel taking over in 2015, but has hosted five since 2018.

The SEC led all conferences with 8 host teams, and all 13 teams in the conference made the 64 team-field. Vanderbilt does not sponsor softball. 

Arkansas was joined by No. 3 national seed Tennessee, No. 4 Florida, No. 7 Missouri, No. 9 LSU, No. 11 Georgia, No. 14 Alabama and No. 16 Texas A&M as regional hosts from the SEC.

Texas and Oklahoma, which will join the SEC next year, are the Nos. 1 and 2 national seeds. 

Other national seeds are Oklahoma State, UCLA (6), Stanford (8), Duke (10), Louisiana-Lafayette (13) and Florida State (15).