FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2012 – MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: Zach Lawson (zlawson@uark.edu)

 

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Championship season begins in Baton Rouge

 

            BATON ROUGE, La. – The No. 11 University of Arkansas women’s track and field team enters the championship portion of its outdoor slate, beginning with the 2012 Southeastern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships this weekend. Competition begins Thursday with the start of the heptathlon and runs through Sunday at the Bernie Moore Track Stadium in Baton Rouge, La.

            Live coverage of the conference meet will air on ESPN3.com on Saturday and Sunday. That coverage will air Saturday from 4:30-7:15 p.m. (CT) and Sunday from 3-7 p.m. Dwight Stones, Larry Rawson and Lewis Johnson will have the call of the action. A two-hour highlight show recapping the SEC Championships will air Wednesday, May 23, at 7 p.m. on ESPNU.

            “The quality and depth of competition (in the SEC) is just outstanding,” head coach Lance Harter said. “When you look at the top marks in the SEC, those same marks are leading the nation. So you’re talking about the best of the best hitting head-to-head. We’re going into LSU’s backyard. They always host great meets with great crowds, so this weekend should be very exciting.”

            Last season, the Razorbacks finished in third place at the SEC outdoor meet and return defending champion Makeba Alcide in the heptathlon and two-time defending champion Tina Sutej in the pole vault. Arkansas has also won the last two titles in the 4x400-meter relay. Sutej set the NCAA record last season at the outdoor conference meet with her clearance of 4.61m/15-1.5 in Athens, Ga.

            Overall at the SEC outdoor meet, the program has three team crowns and 55 event titles. Arkansas’ first SEC title was won during the 2000 season in Baton Rouge, the last time the meet was hosted by LSU. The Razorbacks’ three SEC team titles came in 2000, 2001 and 2004. Arkansas has won at least one event title every year since joining the conference, including a program-high six wins in 2001.

            The Razorbacks have four SEC-leading performers heading into the weekend with Alcide in the heptathlon (5,621 points), Sutej in the pole vault (4.55m/14-11), Regina George at 400 meters (52.05) and Kristen Gillespie at 5,000 meters (15:48.91). Sutej’s mark also leads the NCAA.

            Arkansas fell one spot to No. 11 in the May 8 release of the USTFCCCA national rankings. The Razorbacks are one of five ranked SEC teams entering the conference meet. Joining Arkansas in this week’s rankings are No. 2 LSU, No. 4 Florida, No. 19 Tennessee and No. 21 Georgia.

            With the hope of extending their season deeper into the summer, three Razorbacks—in four events—have hit the ‘B’ qualifying standard for the U.S. Olympic Trials. That list includes George at 400 meters, Gillespie at 1,500 and 5,000 meters and Grace Heymsfield in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. The 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials will be contested June 22-July 1 at Hayward Field in Eugene, Ore.

In addition to the ESPN3.com video schedule, meet coverage for the 2012 SEC Outdoor Track and Field Championships will include meet results and an interactive blog. For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

 

Weekend Blog Schedule

Thursday, May 10 – 2:45 p.m. (start time)

Friday, May 11 – 1:45 p.m.

Saturday, May 12 – 4:15 p.m.

Sunday, May 13 – 2:45 p.m.

 

ESPN3.com Video Schedule

Saturday, May 12 – 4:30-7:15 p.m.

Sunday, May 13 – 3-7 p.m. 

 

All Times Central

 

-- ArkansasRazorbacks.com || On Twitter @ArkRazorbacks || Facebook.com/ArkansasRazorbacks --