ARKANSAS WOMEN'S T&F: Razorbacks send 25 to NCAA West Preliminary

ARKANSAS WOMEN'S T&F: Razorbacks send 25 to NCAA West Preliminary

May 17, 2012 by FloTrack Staff
ARKANSAS WOMEN'S T&F: Razorbacks send 25 to NCAA West Preliminary

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012 – MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: Zach Lawson (zlawson@uark.edu)

 

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Razorbacks send 25 to NCAA West Preliminary

 

            FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 13 University of Arkansas women’s track team will be represented by 25 total qualifiers—23 individual and two relays—at the 2012 NCAA West Preliminary which will be contested May 24-26 at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas. The top 48 declared athletes were selected into individual events per region, while the top 24 relay teams declared per region also qualified.

            The NCAA East Preliminary will be held the same weekend at Hodges Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. Those who advance past the preliminary round will compete June 6-9 at the NCAA Outdoor Championships at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. The top 12 from each region in each event, including relays, advance to the NCAA Championships.

            Arkansas has a team-high three qualifiers each in the 400 meters, 3,000-meter steeplechase and pole vault. Regina George (No. 4, 51.79), the SEC champion at 400 meters, paces the team’s trio in that event along with Whitney Jones (No. 9, 52.70) and Gwendolyn Flowers (No. 28, 53.65). In the steeplechase, the Razorbacks will have Grace Heymsfield (No. 10, 10:13.41), Cali George (No. 20, 10:20.48) and Shannon Klenke (No. 39, 10:31.23).

            Tina Sutej (No. 1, 4.55m/14-11) is the national leader and top qualifier in the pole vault and will be joined by Tara Diebold (No. 21, 4.15m/13-7.25) and Danielle Nowell (No. 31, 4.05m/13-3.5) in the competition.

            In the middle distances, Arkansas has two entries at 800 meters with Martine Borge (No. 16, 2:06.54) and Samantha Learch (No. 29, 2:07.82) and two entries at 1,500 meters with Kristen Gillespie (No. 4, 4:13.33) and Keri Wood (No. 9, 4:18.84). The team will also have Dominique Scott (No. 14, 16:12.69) and Kaitlin Flattmann (No. 30, 16:30.90) competing at 5,000 meters.

            Tiffany Hines will represent the Razorbacks in the 100 meters (No. 21, 11.53) and 200 meters (No. 12, 23.51). In the 100-meter hurdles, Ivanique Kemp (No. 7, 13.20) and Brittany Hyter (No. 13, 13.32) qualified for the team. Hyter (No. 19, 58.44) is also scheduled to compete at 400-meter hurdles. Both Razorback relays (4x100m – No. 7, 44.01; 4x400m – No. 3, 3:31.16) will also head to Austin.

            In other field events, Makeba Alcide (No. 27, 1.76m/5-9.25) and Kirsten Hesseltine (No. 37, 1.75m/5-8.75) will compete in the high jump. The long jump competition will feature freshman Tamara Myers (No. 41, 5.90m/19-4.25).

            Along with the accepted entries for next weekend’s preliminary events, the list of decathlon qualifiers that will advance directly to the NCAA Championships was also released. Alcide heads to the national event with the No. 12 mark in the country with 5,621 points. She is one of six SEC participants in the field of 24.

            In the most recent release of the USTFCCCA national rankings, Arkansas dropped two spots to No. 13 in the country. The Razorbacks are one of five teams from the SEC ranked this week. For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

 

NCAA West Preliminary Entries

100m

21. Tiffany Hines, 11.53

 

200m

12. Tiffany Hines, 23.51

 

400m

4. Regina George, 51.79

9. Whitney Jones, 52.70

28. Gwendolyn Flowers, 53.65

 

800m

16. Martine Borge, 2:06.54

29. Samantha Learch, 2:07.82

 

1,500m

4. Kristen Gillespie, 4:13.33

9. Keri Wood, 4:18.84

 

5,000m

14. Dominique Scott, 16:12.69

30. Kaitlin Flattmann, 16:30.90

 

100m Hurdles

7. Ivanique Kemp, 13.20

13. Brittany Hyter, 13.32

 

400m Hurdles

19. Brittany Hyter, 58.44

 

3,000m Steeplechase

10. Grace Heymsfield, 10:13.41

20. Cali George, 10:20.48

39. Shannon Klenke, 10:31.23

 

4x100m Relay

7. Flowers/George/Hines/Jones, 44.01

 

4x400m Relay

3. George/Jones/Williams/Flowers, 3:31.16

 

High Jump

27. Makeba Alcide, 1.76m/5-9.25

37. Kirsten Hesseltine, 1.75m/5-8.75

 

Pole Vault

1. Tina Sutej, 4.55m/14-11

21. Tara Diebold, 4.15m/13-7.25

31. Danielle Nowell, 4.05m/13-3.5

 

Long Jump

41. Tamara Myers, 5.90m/19-4.25

 

NCAA Championships Entries

Heptathlon

12. Makeba Alcide – 5,621 points

 

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