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

 

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Razorbacks fourth in Program of the Year standings

 

            FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – With the conclusion of the 2012 indoor track and field season, the University of Arkansas women’s track and field team sits in fourth place in the Terry Crawford Program of the Year Award standings. The Razorbacks have 20 points through the first two legs of the 2011-12 season and are the only team from the Southeastern Conference ranked in the top 20 of the award, given by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA).

The Program of the Year Award is presented annually to the most outstanding cross country/track and field programs. The award honors the institution that has achieved the most success in each academic year—spanning the cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field seasons—based on the institution’s finished at the NCAA Championships.

            At the NCAA Indoor Championships last weekend in Nampa, Idaho, Arkansas finished in fifth place. It was the fifth top-five national indoor finish in program history and the second in as many years. The Razorbacks scored 24 points with 10 points from pole vault national champion Tina Sutej, eight points from Regina George as the national runner-up at 400 meters, five points from the 4x400-meter relay and a point from Kristen Gillespie in the mile.

            At the NCAA Cross Country Championships in November in Terre Haute, Ind., the Razorbacks ran to a 14^th-place finish with a total of 375 team points, paced by an All-America performance from Gillespie. The team’s finish marked the 20^th top-15 national cross country finish in program history. Arkansas’ scoring lineup featured Gillespie, Stephanie Brown, Jessica Jackson, Kaitlin Flattmann and Dominique Scott.

            The outdoor campaign for the Razorbacks begins March 28-31 at Texas Relays and March 31 at the Arkansas Spring Invitational. The 2012 track and field season culminates June 6-9 with the NCAA Outdoor Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

            In order to be eligible for the award, teams must qualify for each of the NCAA Championships. Scoring is based on the team’s finish at each NCAA Division I Championship in cross country, indoor track and field and outdoor track and field with the lowest total score for all three championships combined determining the award recipient. Ties among schools split points for positions taken.

            The Terry Crawford Women’s Program of the Year Award is named for USTFCCCA Hall of Famer and former Cal Poly head coach Terry Crawford. Crawford has won five NCAA national championships, and over 20 conference titles. Her 1986 Texas squad remains the only NCAA women’s program to ever win the national Triple Crown.

            For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

 

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