16 going to NCAA prelims

November 7, 2014

FAYETTEVILLE – No. 13 Arkansas Razorback women’s track and field will be represented by 16 student-athletes in 11 events at the NCAA West preliminary rounds, May 27-29, it was released on Friday. The University of Texas will host the event at Mike A. Myers Stadium.

"This is certainly one of our largest contingents we have ever taken to an NCAA meet," head coach Lance Harter said. "I’m really pleased with the entries we have going. We have some real fire power in the 400 meters, the pole vault and the 4×400-meter relay. We also have a lot of freshmen and sophomores competing so this will be a great experience for their development and progression. We are excited about the capabilities of this group and to see them compete at the national championships."

Junior Shelise Williams (No. 3; 52.23) will lead a Razorback quartet in the 400 meters. She will be joined by freshman Regina George (No. 5; 52.62), junior Edina Brooks (No. 26; 54.00) and senior Karen Thomas (No. 37; 54.45). The quartet, joined by sophomore Whitney Jones, will make up the legs of the 4×400-meter relay, currently ranked No. 1 with an NCAA-leading time of 3:31.05.

In the middle distances, freshman Stephanie Brown (No. 7; 2:05.28) will run the 800 meters. Sophomores Kristen Gillespie (No. 18; 4:22.56) and Samantha Learch (No. 22; 4:32.09) will run the 1,500 meters. In the distance races, junior Miranda Walker (No. 23; 16:28.75) will run the 5,000 meters and sophomore Cali George (No. 44; 10:43.25) will compete in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.

Sophomore Brittany Hyter will compete in the 100-meter hurdles (No. 20; 13.53) and the 400-meter hurdles (No. 21; 59.72) and freshman Leah Orley will run the 400-meter hurdles (No. 23; 59.78)

The trio of pole vaulters is led by senior Katie Stripling (No. 1; 14-5.5). She is joined by sophomore Tina Sutej (No. 6; 14-1.75) and senior Janice Keppler (No. 14; 13-9.75). Jones (No. 28; 20-3.5) and junior Shantel Thompson (No. 38: 19-10.75) will compete in the long jump and Thompson (No. 28; 41-5) will triple jump.