Boatright rides the wave in Manhattan

NEW YORK – Sophomore Tominque Boatright put together a pair of sensational 400-meter runs for the University of Arkansas track team on Friday night at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the Armory in New York.

Opening the day with a splendid performance in the open 400, Boatright clocked 54.76 to take eighth in the preliminary race and give her an opportunity to run in Saturday’s final. Nabbing the lone time qualifier in the competition, she finished second in her heat, coincidentally, the fastest of the day, just behind the race leader. Following a four-plus hour break, Boatright then ran the second leg of Arkansas’ distance medley relay and split a shocking 53.3 to keep the Lady Razorbacks in the competition.

“We had a great morning,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “Tominque did an outstanding job for us all day and our young 3,000-meter runners looked very good. Denise Bargiachi and Jennifer Harper each ran lifetime bests.”

Arkansas’ 3,000-meter crew began the day of competition at 11:30 a.m., and it was Bargiachi who led the Arkansas trio. Dropping eight seconds from her career best time which she ran just three weeks ago, Bargiachi finished her race in 9:47.13 to finish seventh overall. Freshman teammate cut an unprecedented 14 seconds off her personal best when she ran 10:00.04, finishing 15th. Rounding out the Arkansas performances was Tiffany Redlarczyk’s 9:59 which was just four seconds off her personal best.

In the long jump, junior Lakeisha Martin began to showcase her special talents when she leaped to a career best 18 feet, 10 ¾ inches. Making the finals thanks to a solid start, Martin looked better than she ever has and continues to improve under the tutelage of Arkansas’ coaching staff.

Junior Tiavannia Thompson also ran well for the Lady Razorbacks on Friday when she finished the 60-meter hurdles in 8.72 seconds to finish 18th overall in a loaded field. Thompson looked very strong over the hurdles, but got a slow start in her race which prevented her from improving on her personal best of 8.59 which she ran two weeks ago at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

Arkansas’ distance medley relay completed the day’s action, barely missing the NCAA provisional cut with a time of 11:33.14. Sophomore Dacia Barr led off the race and was unable to get a good start to her 1,200-meter leg, eventually handing the baton to Boatright in sixth position. Boatright then took off made up a large chunk of real estate in her two-laps before giving the stick to sophomore Paige Farrell for the 800 meters. Farrell would pass one runner on her first lap and hold on with a solid time of 2:10 before freshman Christine Kalmer anchored the relay.

The Lady Razorbacks continue competition at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational on Saturday in New York City. For more information about Lady Razorback track or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.