FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – SATURDAY, MAY 26, 2012 – MEDIA RELATIONS CONTACT: Zach Lawson (zlawson@uark.edu)

 

UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS WOMEN’S TRACK AND FIELD

Razorbacks collect 10 entries for NCAA meet

 

            AUSTIN, Texas – On the final day of competition at the 2012 NCAA West Preliminary, the No. 13 University of Arkansas women’s track and field team added six national qualifiers. Combined with other efforts during the weekend and Makeba Alcide in the heptathlon, the Razorbacks will have 10 entries—eight individual and two relay—at the NCAA Championships in Des Moines, Iowa.

            Saturday’s list of qualifiers includes Tiffany Hines at 200 meters, Kristen Gillespie at 1,500 meters, Ivanique Kemp and Brittany Hyter in the 100-meter hurdles and both 4x100- and 4x400-meter relays. Arkansas’ other national entries are Alcide, Regina George and Whitney Jones at 400 meters and Tina Sutej in the pole vault.

            The Razorbacks picked up their first NCAA qualifier of the day in the 4x100-meter relay. The team of George, Hines, Kemp and Gwendolyn Flowers passed the baton around the track in a time of 44.50 to finish third in its heat. Arkansas will have its 4x100-meter relay at the national meet for the first time since the 2004 NCAA Championships.

            Gillespie will represent the Razorbacks at the national meet for the second time in as many seasons in the 1,500 meters. She finished in fourth place in heat two, and eighth overall with a qualifying effort of 4:21.24. Last season, Gillespie advanced to the finals of the event at the NCAA Championships and finished in 11^th place.

            In the 100-meter hurdles, Arkansas advanced both of its runners to Des Moines with the performances of Kemp and Hyter. Running in heat one, Kemp held form despite a stumble from a nearby competitor to win the race in a time of 13.23. Hyter made a late push in her heat to finish third with a time of 13.25. This will be Kemp’s second appearance at the national meet.

            Hines doubled back from her anchor leg with the 4x100-meter relay to advance to the NCAA Championships in the 200 meters. The Razorback sophomore took third place in heat three with a time of 23.47 to advance. With her top-three finish, Hines secured one of the guaranteed spots into the national meet.

            Arkansas closed its weekend with a qualifying performance in the 4x400-meter relay. Flowers, George, Jones and Chrishuna Williams combined for a time of 3:31.94, the team’s second fastest of the season. They finished third in heat three, and seventh overall to clinch a spot at the NCAA Championships.

            Alcide will join this weekend’s qualifiers in Des Moines and will represent Arkansas in the heptathlon for the second-consecutive season. With her season-high score of 5,621 points at the Drake Relays, the Razorback junior secured her place at the national meet and enters the competition as the No. 12 qualifier. Last season, Alcide finished 14^th in the heptathlon.

Up next, the Razorbacks will take their 10 national qualifiers to the NCAA Championships. The collegiate-season finale will be contested June 6-9 at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, Iowa. For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

 

Saturday Results

200 Meters

8. Tiffany Hines – 23.47Q

 

1,500 Meters

8. Kristen Gillespie – 4:21.24Q

17. Keri Wood – 4:29.39

 

5,000 Meters

27. Kaitlin Flattmann – 17:08.57

--. Dominique Scott - DNF

 

100m Hurdles

3. Ivanique Kemp – 13.23Q

8. Brittany Hyter – 13.25Q

 

4x100m

9. Flowers/George/Kemp/Hines – 44.50Q

 

4x400m

7. George/Jones/Williams/Flowers – 3:31.94Q

 

Q – qualified for NCAA Championships

 

NCAA Championship Qualifiers

Makeba Alcide – heptathlon

Regina George – 400m

Kristen Gillespie – 1,500m

Tiffany Hines – 200m

Brittany Hyter – 100m hurdles

Whitney Jones – 400m

Ivanique Kemp – 100m hurdles

Tina Sutej – pole vault

Flowers/George/Kemp/Hines – 4x100m

George/Jones/Williams/Flowers – 4x400m

 

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