FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – SATURDAY JANUARY 28, 2012 – MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: Zach Lawson (zlawson@uark.edu)

 

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Brown, Gillespie secure spots at NCAA meet

 

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 3 University of Arkansas women’s track and field team secured two NCAA automatic-qualifying times Saturday to close out its weekend at the Razorback Invitational. The Razorbacks collected auto marks from Stephanie Brown in the 800 meters and Kristen Gillespie in the mile to bring its season total of NCAA marks to three. Tina Sutej posted her second qualifying mark Friday on day one of the event.

“We had a really positive weekend,” head coach Lance Harter said. “It was great to see Stephanie Brown and Kristen Gillespie qualify for the NCAA Championship meet this early in the season. We also had some big breakthrough from some of our younger kids, so we’ve got a lot of positive momentum heading into New York next week.”

Brown secured her spot at the NCAA Indoor Championships with a 2:03.93 performance and second-place showing in the invitational section of the 800 meters. With her effort, she also established a personal best and moved into fourth place in program history. Brown and race winner Charlene Lipsey of LSU become the first runners to hit the NCAA auto mark in the 800 meters. Samantha Learch ran to a fourth-place finish in the race and posted a season-best 2:07.42, the third fastest of her career.

Arkansas collected their second NCAA qualifier of the day with Gillespie in the invitational section of the mile. With a late charge of the final 100 meters of the race, the Razorback senior ran to a first-place finish and a time of 4:36.94, a personal best and just .06 below the qualifying mark of 4:37.00.

In the first event on the track, Regina George led a foursome of Razorback top-10 finishes in the 400 meters. She finished second overall and was the top collegiate performer, crossing in a season-best time of 53.45. George currently holds the No. 3 time in the country at 400 meters. Whitney Jones posted a time of 53.99 to finish in fifth place while Gwendolyn Flowers finished right behind in sixth place with a personal-best 54.72.

Chrishuna Williams rounded out Arkansas’ top-10 efforts with a ninth-place finish in the event. She crossed in a time of 55.11, a personal-best mark. The Razorbacks also picked up personal-best efforts from Rachel Werner (55.89) and Phyllis George (57.52).

The 4x400-meter relay team of Flowers, George, Williams and Jones combined for a runner-up time of 3:35.80. The time is a season best, improving upon the team’s run of 3:36.16 last weekend at the Kentucky Invitational. With their showing, the Razorbacks also improve their No. 4 national mark.

Arkansas’ first event win of the day came from Martine Borge in the open 800 meters. She established a personal best in the event with a time of 2:10.24, more than three seconds clear of the second-place runner. Teammate Jillian Rosen finished in sixth place with a time of 2:14.69.    

The Razorbacks will begin February with a trip next weekend to the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the Armory Track & Field Center in New York. For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

 

Razorback Invitational Results (Day 2)

60M

Final

5. Tiffany Hines – 7.49

Semifinal

4. Tiffany Hines – 7.50q

 

400M

2. Regina George – 53.45 (SB)

5. Whitney Jones – 53.99

6. Gwendolyn Flowers – 54.72 (PR)

9. Chrishuna Williams – 55.11 (PR)

18. Rachel Werner – 55.89 (PR)

29. Bethany Hyter – 57.09

31. Phyllis George – 57.52 (PR)

 

Invitational 800M

2. Stephanie Brown – 2:03.93 (PR)!

4. Samantha Learch – 2:07.42 (SB)

 

800M

1. Martine Borge – 2:10.24 (PR)

6. Jillian Rosen – 2:14.69

 

Invitational Mile

1. Kristen Gillespie – 4:36.94 (PR)!

6. Grace Heymsfield – 4:43.68 (PR)

 

Mile

7. Jessica Jackson – 4:56.58

8. Cali George – 4:57.39

9. Keri Wood – 4:59.34

 

Invitational 3,000M

9. Kaitlin Flattmann – 9:28.74

 

3,000M

7. Shannon Klenke – 9:53.79

9. Diane Robison – 9:55.42

11. Dominique Scott – 9:57.14

18. Rachel Carpino – 10:10.80 (PR)

 

60M Hurdles

Prelims

6. Brittany Hyter – 8.42q (SB)

7. Ivanique Kemp – 8.45q

Final

3. Ivanique Kemp – 8.44

6. Brittany Hyter – 8.49

 

4x400M Relay

2. Arkansas (Flowers-R. George-Williams-Jones) – 3:35.80 (SB)

9. Arkansas ‘B’ – 3:53.52

10. Arkansas ‘C’ – 3:55.65

 

Triple Jump

5. Tamara Myers – 12.39m/40-7.75

12. Amalie Skage – 11.60m/38-0.75

 

! – NCAA automatic qualifier

 

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