No. 4 Razorbacks have three national leaders

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas women’s track and field team—the 2013 SEC indoor team champion—is ranked No. 4 in this week’s release of the USTFCCCA national poll. In event national rankings, The Razorbacks have eight top-10 marks entering the final weekend prior to the NCAA Indoor Championships which will be contested in Fayetteville.

Despite their victory at the SEC Championships, the Razorbacks dropped one spot in the USTFCCCA rankings from last week’s No. 3 position. The conference continues to have five teams within the top 10, and has a nation-leading top-25 teams. In addition to Arkansas, the conference is represented by top-ranked LSU, No. 6 Texas A&M, No. 7 Georgia, No. 10 Florida, No. 15 South Carolina and No. 25 Mississippi State.

Arkansas owns three NCAA-leading marks with Makeba Alcide in the pentathlon, Regina George at 400 meters and the team’s 4x400-meter relay. Alcide and George were national leaders prior to the SEC weekend but extended the leads in their respective events. Alcide broke the collegiate record in the pentathlon with 4,569 points while George lowered her own school record with a 51.40 performance.

The 4x400-meter relay of George, Gwendolyn Flowers, Sparkle McKnight and Chrishuna Williams took the NCAA lead in the event with a school-record time of 3:29.60 in the conference final. The time is the first sub-3:30 by any team this season and is the eighth-fastest time in collegiate history.

The Razorbacks have five other top-10 national performances with Alcide in the high jump (fourth, 1.89m/6-2.25), distance-medley relay (fourth, 11:04.93), George at 200 meters (fifth, 23.00), Sandi Morris in the pole vault (sixth, 4.31m/14-1.75) and Tamara Myers in the triple jump (ninth, 13.06m/42-10.25). Overall, Arkansas has 12 marks within the top 16 on the NCAA Division I Indoor Qualifying List.

On the heels of a victory from its 4x400-meter relay team, the Razorback women emerged from a tight team race as the SEC indoor champions. Arkansas score 114.5 points during the three-day conference meet to secure the program’s fourth SEC indoor crown, and first since the 2003 season. The Razorbacks finished the weekend with SEC-title performances from Alcide in the pentathlon, George at 400 meters and the team’s 4x400-meter relay. All 20 of the program’s overall SEC titles have come under head coach Lance Harter.

This weekend, the Razorbacks will host the Arkansas Final Qualifier at the Randal Tyson Track The home meet will be held Friday with field events scheduled for a noon (CT) start and running events beginning at 5 p.m. The meet represents the final opportunity for individuals to improve their national standing prior to next week’s announcement of NCAA entries.

Arkansas will host the NCAA Indoor Championships (March 8-9) at the Track Center for the 11th time in program history. For tickets, visit the Razorback Ticket Center on Razorback Road by Baum Stadium, log on to the online ticket office at ArkansasRazorbacks.com or call 800-982-HOGS (4647). Keep up with Arkansas cross country and track and field through the team’s sport-specific RazorbackTF Facebook and Twitter pages.

USTFCCCA Women’s Top 10 (Week #6)
1. LSU – 167.44 points
2. Oregon – 159.28
3. Kansas – 147.70
4. ARKANSAS – 145.84
5. Clemson – 130.74
6. Texas A&M – 105.48
7. Georgia – 83.92
8. Illinois – 79.42
9. UCF – 79.38
10. Florida – 77.76