Bailey George earn SEC accolades

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas Razorback senior Alain Bailey and freshman Regina George, members of the men’s and women’s track and field teams, have garnered weekly accolades from the Southeastern Conference, it was announced Tuesday.

Bailey, a native of Kingston, Jamaica, is the SEC Male Field Event Athlete of the Week. He competed in the invitational section of the long jump at the Tyson Invitational this weekend. He won the event with a mark of 26-2.75. Bailey’s jump is a personal and season best and an NCAA automatic qualifier.

"Alain Bailey is definitely a leader for us," head coach Chris Bucknam said. "He leads by example and we will rely on him for points at the SEC Championships in two weeks. Alain had a big jump on a big day and rising to the occasion is one of the things he does best."

Bailey’s jump ranks No. 2 in the NCAA and No. 2 in the SEC. His mark is also No. 6 on Arkansas’ all-time list.

George, a freshman from Chicago, Ill., is the SEC Female Freshman of the Week. She ran the open 400 meters and the anchor leg of the 4×400-meter relay at the Tyson Invitational this weekend. In the last week, she has had three school record-setting performances.

"Regina George is a very special talent," head coach Lance Harter said. "We originally thought she would just be an 800-meter runner but she has proven that she can also contribute in the 400 meters. And her abilities as a member of our relay teams provide us with a great amount of depth. She’s one of the top freshmen in the NCAA, no matter what event she is competing in."

George finished ninth overall, fifth among collegians and first among freshmen in the open 400 meters on Friday. Her time of 53.73 is a personal best, ranks No. 16 in the NCAA (No. 1 among freshmen) and No. 5 in the SEC (No. 1 among freshmen). Her time is also an improved NCAA provisional qualifier.

As the anchor leg of the 4×400-meter relay, George ran with the quartet that clocked a new school record time of 3:32.87 on Saturday. Their time won the event, is an NCAA automatic qualifier, ranks No. 1 in the NCAA and the SEC. They replaced the previous school record of 3:33.18, set at the 2010 New Balance Collegiate Invitational.

The Razorbacks will compete next when they host the 2010 SEC Indoor Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Championships, Feb. 26-28, at the Randal Tyson Track Center.