No. 2 Razorbacks Look To Keep Streak Alive
NASHVILLE – Ranked in the top three nationally throughout this entire regular season, the No. 2 Arkansas women’s track and field team looks to extend its Southeastern Conference (SEC) title streak to nine this weekend at the conference indoor championship. Arkansas has won eight straight SEC titles in cross country, indoor and outdoor track dating back to the 2014 outdoor championship.
The 2017 SEC Indoor Championship will feature eight programs ranked nationally in the top 15, including No. 2 Arkansas, No. 3 Georgia, No. 4 LSU, No. 6 Kentucky, No. 9 Alabama, No. 10 Texas A&M, No. 11 Florida and No. 13 Ole Miss.
In 2016, the Razorbacks dominated at the SEC Indoor Championship in front of their home crowd led by Taylor Ellis-Watson (400), Lexi Weeks (pole vault) and the distance medley relay team.
As the lone returning individual event champion, sophomore Lexi Weeks will headline Arkansas’ power-packed pole vault trio. The current NCAA leader, Lexi is joined by her sister Tori Weeks who is ranked No. 2 nationally and Desiree Freier in the No. 5 spot.
The Razorbacks can also expect exceptional performances from pentathlete-foursome of Taliyah Brooks, Leigha Brown, Kelsey Herman and Ashlee Moore. A national runner-up at the 2016 NCAA Indoor Championship, Brooks will make her debut in the pentathlon this weekend, hoping to secure a qualifying score on Friday for this year’s national meet.
Arkansas will also have a strong middle distance and distance footprint with senior Nikki Hiltz in the hunt for an SEC title in the mile, while Regan Ward and Taylor Werner pull double duty in the 3,000 and 5,000, respectively. Werner heads into the 3,000 with the top time (9:06.34) in the SEC.
The Razorbacks will open the SEC Indoor Championship on Friday, Feb. 24 at 10:15 a.m. with Brooks, Brown, Herman and Moore in the pentathlon 60-meter hurdles.
2017 SEC Indoor Championships | Nashville, Tennessee
Date/Time: Friday, Feb. 24, 4:25 p.m. CT | Saturday, Feb. 25, 1:55 p.m. CT
Venue: Multipurpose Facility
Tickets: $15 for Adults, $5 for College students and Youth (ages 2-12) via 1-877-448-2639 or at the door
Important Links: Meet Schedule | Start Lists | Live Results | WatchESPN Day 1 | WatchESPN Day 2
Scoring Opportunities – Friday
• 3:30 p.m. Pole Vault: Top entries – Arkansas, Lexi Weeks (SB: 15-1) | Kentucky, Oliva Gruver (14-3 1/4)
• 5:30 p.m. Long Jump: Top entries – Kentucky, Sha’Keela Saunders (22-1) | Arkansas, Taliyah Brooks (21-1 1/2)
• 5:50 p.m. Pentathlon: Top entries – UGA, Kendell Williams (4,476) | Arkansas, Kelsey Herman (4,278)
• 8:50 p.m. 3,000 Meters: Top entries – Arkansas, Taylor Werner (9:06.34) | Missouri, Karissa Schweizer (9:06.60)
For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.