FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012 – MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: Zach Lawson (zlawson@uark.edu)

 

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

School records, NCAA auto mark at NBCI

 

            FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 3 University of Arkansas women’s track and field team collected four wins, two school records, an NCAA automatic-qualifying mark and a meet record Friday at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York. The Razorbacks picked up wins in both sections of the 500 meters with Regina George and Martine Borge, respectively, in the pole vault with Tina Sutej and from its distance-medley relay team.

            In her victory, George set the school and meet records in the 500 meters with her time of 1:09.81, the No. 6 all-time performance by a collegian. She replaced the previous Arkansas mark of 1:10.93 set by Shelise Williams in 2011 and bested the NBCI record of 1:1204 set by Clarissa Moh of Seton Hall in 2009. George also established the fastest time by a collegiate runner at The Armory, surpassing the time of 1:10.05 set by Natasha Hastings of South Carolina in 2004.

            The relay foursome of Kristen Gillespie, Gwendolyn Flowers, Samantha Learch and Stephanie Brown turned in the first school-record performance of the day with a victory in the DMR. The Razorbacks combined for an NCAA automatic-qualifying time of 11:01.01. The time currently ranks third in the NCAA and replaces the previous school record of 11:02.45 set last year at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational.

            Tina Sutej notched her third win of the season in the pole vault. She secured the victory with a final clearance of 4.30m/14-1.25. Sutej has now won 10 consecutive indoor competitions and 16 of 17 meets, overall, dating back to the beginning of the 2011 season. Tara Diebold tied her personal best with a clearance of 4.30m/14-1.25 and finished in third place on misses. In fifth place, Danielle Nowell set a personal best of her own with a 4.10m/13-5.25 clearance.

            Arkansas’ first win of the day came from Martine Borge in the college section of the 500 meters. She crossed the finish line in a time of 1:13.05, a personal best and the fourth-fastest result in school history. Right behind her in second place, Chrishuna Williams raced to a time of 1:13.92 to post the No. 5 time in school history.

            In the consolation final of the 60-meter hurdles, Ivanique Kemp finished in third place with a personal-best time of 8.27. Her performance also marked a new national record in the event for her native Bahamas. Kemp was the 10^th-fastest qualifier out of the preliminary heats.

            Other personal-best efforts Friday came from Rachel Werner at 400 meters and Kirsten Hesseltine in the high jump. Running in the championship section of the quarter mile, Werner crossed in a time of 55.71. She has improved upon her personal best in each meet this season. In the college section of the high jump, Hesseltine tied for seventh place with a final clearance of 1.70m/5-7, tying her personal best at Arkansas.

            Kaitlin Flattmann, in her second race of the indoor season, posted a time of 16:47.95 in the championship section of the 5,000 meters. The Razorback freshman finished the race in eighth place.

Day two of the New Balance Collegiate Invitational begins at 8:55 a.m. (CT) for the Razorbacks. The team is scheduled to compete in eight events to close out the meet. Visit www.armorytrack.com for schedule, live results and video stream. For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

 

New Balance Collegiate Invitational

Day 1 Results

 

400m (championship section - prelims)

9. Whitney Jones – 54.77q

22. Rachel Werner – 55.71 (PR)

 

500m (championship section)

1. Regina George – 1:09.81 (school, meet record)

 

500m (college section)

1. Martine Borge – 1:13.05 (PR)

2. Chrishuna Williams – 1:13.92

 

1,000m (championship section)

23. Jillian Rosen – 2:54.71

32. Jessica Jackson – 2:56.83

34. Dominique Scott – 2:57.44

 

5,000m (championship section)

8. Kaitlin Flattmann – 16:47.95

 

60m Hurdles (consolation final)

3. Ivanique Kemp – 8.27 (PR)

 

60m Hurdles (championship section – prelims)

10. Ivanique Kemp – 8.36q

22. Brittany Hyter – 8.55

 

60m Hurdles (college section – prelims)

13. Makeba Alcide – 8.84

 

Distance-Medley Relay (championship section)

1. Kristen Gillespie/Gwendolyn Flowers/Samantha Learch/Stephanie Brown – 11:01.01A (school record)

 

High Jump (college section)

7. Kirsten Hesseltine – 1.70m/5-7 (PR)

 

Pole Vault (championship section)

1. Tina Sutej – 4.30m/14-1.25

3. Tara Diebold – 4.30m/14-1.25 (PR)

5. Danielle Nowell – 4.10m/13-5.25 (PR)

 

A – NCAA auto mark

 

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