Barr Stripling Earn SEC Track Honors

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Lady Razorbacks Dacia Barr and Katie Stripling were awarded SEC Athlete of the Week honors, it was announced on Tuesday.

Dacia Barr, the SEC Runner of the Week, clocked the nation’s fastest time in the 1,500 meters this year at the Cardinal Invitational. She finished fourth of the 15 harriers and was the top collegian to cross the line.

Her time, 4:13.77, is the third best in school history and improves her existing regional-qualifying mark by nearly seven seconds. She also set a personal best and now leads the SEC and the Mideast Region.

Katie Stripling, the SEC Field Athlete of the Week, set a new Arkansas record and cleared 14-2 to place second in the pole vault at the Arkansas Twilight. A personal best for Stripling, she placed second only to former Lady’Back and professional jumper April Steiner, who held the school record of 14-0 Stripling replaced.

Stripling, setting two personal bests while competing in the event, improved her personal best and regional-qualifying mark by more than six inches (formerly 13-4.5). Her clearance of 14-2 is the top mark in the nation, in the Mideast Region and in the SEC. She has also cleared the "B" standard for the U. S. Olympic Trials.

The Lady’Backs are off this weekend in preparation for next week’s SEC Championships, at Auburn, May 15-18. For complete details, visit www.ladybacks.com