FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012 – MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: Zach Lawson (zlawson@uark.edu)

 

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

No. 2 Razorbacks host Last Chance meet

 

            FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The No. 2-ranked University of Arkansas women’s track and field team will host its annual Last Chance meet Friday at the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville. Field events at the meet are scheduled to begin at noon (CT) with running events set for a 6 p.m. start.

            As the final competition before next weekend’s national meet, competitors will be looking to improve their national marks in advance of Monday’s release of the accepted entries list. The 2012 NCAA Indoor Championships will be contested March 9-10 at the Jacksons Track in Nampa, Idaho.

            “We’re going to try to run a faster 800 (meters) with Martine Borge and Samantha Learch this weekend,” head coach Lance Harter said. “In the hurdles, we’d like Ivanique Kemp to drop maybe a tenth of a second. If that happens, then she’s got a ticket to the national meet.”

            This weekend, Arkansas has entries in the 60 meters, 200 meters, 400 meters, 800 meters, 60-meter hurdles, pole vault, triple jump and weight throw. In addition to the Razorbacks, Friday’s field of action is also scheduled to include competitors from Baylor, Florida State, Houston, Kansas, Missouri State, Ole Miss, TCU, Texas, USC, Wichita State and others.

            Heading into the weekend, Arkansas has seven NCAA automatic qualifiers to its credit. The Razorbacks are currently represented at 800 meters by Stephanie Brown, in the mile by Brown and Kristen Gillespie, in the pole vault by Tina Sutej and Tara Diebold and in the 4x400-meter and distance-medley relays. Non-automatic qualifiers ranked inside the top 10 of their respective event are Regina George and Whitney Jones at 400 meters and Makeba Alcide in the pentathlon.

            On the heels of their performance at the SEC Championships, the Razorbacks moved up to a season-high No. 2 ranking in the Feb. 28 release of the USTFCCCA national poll. Previously ranked fourth, Arkansas is now the top-ranked team in the SEC which leads the nation with six ranked teams. The Razorbacks are joined by No. 4 LSU, No. 7 Florida, No. 16 Tennessee, No. 22 Georgia and No. 25 Auburn.

            Meet day coverage for the Arkansas Last Chance meet will include an interactive blog and live results via Flash Results. For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

 

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