FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2012 – MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: Zach Lawson (zlawson@uark.edu)

 

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Three wins on day one of Tyson Invitational

 

            FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 4 University of Arkansas women’s track and field team collected three victories Friday on day one of the Tyson Invitational at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville. The Razorbacks picked up wins from Regina George in the 400 meters, Stephanie Brown in the mile and Tina Sutej in the pole vault.

            “It was a really good day for our quarter milers,” head coach Lance Harter said. “Across the board, they had personal or season bests which is what you’re looking for at this time of year. We’re looking forward to an exciting day tomorrow with our collegians competing to close out the Tyson Invitational and being part of the USA Track & Field Classic.”

            The Razorbacks swept the top-two spots in the 400 meters with George and Whitney Jones, respectively. Both runners posted season-best times with George crossing in 52.73 and Jones finishing in 53.13. Gwendolyn Flowers, Chrishuna Williams and Rachel Werner all had personal bests at 400 meters. Flowers finished in 11^th place at 54.03, Williams was 18^th in 54.74 and Werner was 20^th in 54.91.

            In the first race on the track, Brown ran to a first-place and personal-best performance in the college section of the mile. Brown crossed the finish in a time of 4:42.52, nearly one second faster than her previous best. She was followed by teammate Keri Wood who finished in second place with a time of 4:55.52, a personal best for the sophomore.

            Sutej closed out the evening with a victory in the pole vault, her fourth in as many competitions this season. She finished with a winning clearance of 4.30m/14-1.25. Sutej raised the bar to 4.45m/14-7.25 to take shots at her national-leading mark but had three unsuccessful attempts. Dating back to the beginning of the 2011 season, Sutej has now won 11 consecutive indoor competitions.

            Ivanique Kemp led the team’s efforts in the 60-meter hurdles and qualified for Saturday’s final in the event. In the preliminary round, she crossed in a time of 8.50 and was the 11^th-fastest qualifier to move on to the semifinal heats. Running in the second heat of the semifinals, Kemp finished fifth in her race and eighth overall to move on to the championship run. The finals of the 60-meter hurdles will be run tomorrow at 7 p.m. (CT) during the USA Track & Field Classic.

            In addition to the Tyson Invitational, Northwest Arkansas will host the USA Track & Field Classic tomorrow, beginning at 5 p.m. (CT) at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The meet will include a 10-event professional lineup and a field of the world’s best track and field stars that have combined to win 21 Olympic medals and 60 World Championship medals. Former Arkansas standouts Wallace Spearmon and Veronica Campbell-Brown are scheduled to compete Saturday.           

Day two of the Tyson Invitational is set to begin Saturday with the field events at 10 a.m. and the running events at 10:30 a.m. For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

 

Tyson Invitational – Day 1 Results

60M (prelims)

17. Tiffany Hines – 7.51

32. Shekara Boakye – 7.72 (PR)

33. Ivanique Kemp – 7.74

42. Jeriann Okoro – 7.88

 

400M

1. Regina George – 52.73 (SB)

2. Whitney Jones – 53.13 (SB)

11. Gwendolyn Flowers – 54.03 (PR)

18. Chrishuna Williams – 54.74 (PR)

20. Rachel Werner – 54.91 (PR)

57. Phyllis George – 58.05

59. Bethany Hyter – 58.18

 

60mH (semifinals)

8. Ivanique Kemp – 8.37q

10. Brittany Hyter – 8.47

 

60mH (prelims)

8. Brittany Hyter – 8.45q

11. Ivanique Kemp – 8.50q

23. Makeba Alcide – 8.75

 

Mile (college)

1. Stephanie Brown – 4:42.52 (PR)

2. Keri Wood – 4:55.52 (PR)

 

Long Jump (college)

14. Makeba Alcide – 5.66m/18-7 (PR)

 

High Jump (college)

5. Kirsten Hesseltine – 1.68m/5-6

10. Chelsey Roberts – 1.63m/5-4.25

 

Pole Vault (championship)

1. Tina Sutej – 4.30m/14-1.25

4. Tara Diebold – 4.12m/13-6.25

8. Danielle Nowell – 4.02m/13-2.25

 

Pole Vault (college)

9. Megan Weller – 3.75m/12-3.5

 

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