FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – SATURDAY, JANUARY 14, 2012 – MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: Zach Lawson (zlawson@uark.edu)

 

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Three wins on day two of Kentucky Invitational

 

            FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The University of Arkansas women’s track and field team closed out competition at the Kentucky Invitational with three victories Saturday. The Razorbacks collected victories from Regina George at 200 meters, Ivanique Kemp in the 60-meter hurdles and the 4x400-meter relay team. The two-day indoor event was held in Lexington, Ky., at the Nutter Field House, site of the 2012 Southeastern Conference Indoor Championships.

            “We had a lot of positives this weekend,” head coach Lance Harter said. “Kristen Gillespie had a 29-second PR in the 3,000 (meters), Stephanie Brown had a nice opener in the mile, Grace Heymsfield had a 10-second PR in the mile, the quarter-milers ran really well and the 4x4 team ran the fastest time in the country. It was a big weekend as we start to post national times in primary events and get ready for our big meet (the Razorback Invitational) at the end of the month.”

            Arkansas’ first win of the day came from Kemp in the 60-meter hurdles. After advancing to the finals as the event’s top qualifier, she crossed the finish in a personal-best effort of 8.35 to clinch her second hurdle win in as many weeks. She finished ahead of teammate Brittany Hyter who made her season debut with a runner-up finish and a time of 8.54 in the finals.

            George secured her team’s second event title with a first-place result at 200 meters. In her second event of the day, she picked up the win with a time of 24.15. Kemp, in her third race of the day, clocked a time of 24.82 to finish in fifth place. Jeriann Okoro finished 20^th in the event after a sixth-place finish earlier in the day at 60 meters.

            The Razorbacks posted their third win by way of its 4x400-meter relay team in the final event of the day. The foursome of George, Gwendolyn Flowers, Whitney Jones and Rachel Werner combined for a time of 3:36.16, a season best for Arkansas and the top mark in the NCAA so far this season.

            In the 400 meters, George led a 2-4-5-7 finish for Arkansas. She ran to a time of 53.61 and was the top collegiate performer in the event. Jones followed with a time of 53.86 to finish fourth and Flower finished in fifth place with a personal-best time of 54.96. Werner, in seventh place, equaled her personal best with a time of 55.95.

            Stephanie Brown and Kristen Gillespie turned in personal-best performances in the mile and 3,000 meters, respectively. Brown finished second overall, and as the top collegiate runner, in the mile with a time of 4:43.41. Grace Heymsfield, eighth place in the mile, knocked 10 seconds off her personal best with a time of 4:51.29. At 3,000 meters, Gillespie was the top collegian and race runner-up with a 9:20.91 clocking, nearly 29 seconds faster than her previous best in the event.

            In field event results, Makeba Alcide was Arkansas’ top performer in the high jump with a clearance of 1.71m (5-7.25), good for a sixth-place result. Amalie Skage, the Razorbacks’ lone representative in the triple jump, got out to a day’s best mark of 11.72m (38-5.5) and finished in eighth place.

            Overall, Arkansas finished the weekend with four event victories. In addition to Saturday’s results, Tina Sutej won the pole vault during Friday night’s competition. She finished first with an NCAA automatic-qualifying clearance of 4.35m (14-3.25) in her season debut.

With the completion of the Kentucky Invitational, the Razorbacks are scheduled to return to action Jan. 21 at the JD Martin Invitational Duals in Norman, Okla. For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

 

Kentucky Invitational Results

Jan. 13-14 – Nutter Field House (Lexington, Ky.)

 

60 meters (finals)

7. Jeriann Okoro – 7.69

 

60 meters (prelims)

9. Jeriann Okoro – 7.84q

 

200 meters

1. Regina George – 24.15

5. Ivanique Kemp – 24.82

20. Jeriann Okoro – 25.99

 

400 meters

2. Regina George – 53.61

4. Whitney Jones – 53.86

5. Gwendolyn Flowers – 54.96 (PR)

7. Rachel Werner – 55.95 (PR)

11. Chrishuna Williams – 57.35

15. Bethany Hyter – 57.92

16. Phyllis George – 58.06

 

800 meters

4. Samantha Learch – 2:10.08

8. Martine Borge – 2:13.18

 

Mile

2. Stephanie Brown – 4:43.41 (PR)

8. Grace Heymsfield – 4:51.29 (PR)

15. Diane Robison – 5:05.60 (PR)

19. Shannon Klenke – 5:06.90

 

3,000 Meters

2. Kristen Gillespie – 9:20.91 (PR)

7. Cali George – 9:52.04

13. Jillian Rosen – 10:08.23

 

60m Hurdles (finals)

1. Ivanique Kemp – 8.35 (PR)

2. Brittany Hyter – 8.54

14. Makeba Alcide – 8.95

 

60m Hurdles (prelims)

1. Ivanique Kemp – 8.46q

2. Brittany Hyter – 8.55q

T8. Makeba Alcide – 8.82q

 

4x400m Relay

1. Gwendolyn Flowers, Regina George, Rachel Werner, Whitney Jones – 3:36.16 (SB)

6. Chrishuna Williams, Stephanie Brown, Martine Borge, Brittany Hyter – 3:46.56

7. Phyllis George, Samantha Learch, Bethany Hyter, Makeba Alcide – 3:55.15

 

Triple Jump

8. Amalie Skage – 11.72m/38-5.5

 

High Jump

T6. Makeba Alcide – 1.71m/5-7.25

T9. Kirsten Hesseltine – 1.66m/5-5.25

14. Chelsey Roberts – 1.61m/5-3.25

 

Pole Vault (from Friday)

1. Tina Sutej – 4.35m/14-3.25A

5. Danielle Nowell – 3.87m/12-8.25

14. Megan Weller – 3.57m/11-8.5

 

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