Borge joins women's track

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Razorback women’s track and field head coach Lance Harter has announced the addition of Martine Borge for the 2009-10 season on Thursday.

Borge, a native of Bergen, Norway, will join the Razorbacks as a middle distance runner, specializing in the 400- and 800-meter races.

"Martine is a great addition to one of our best signing classes ever," Harter said. "She has international racing experience and, because her father was a successful athlete here in the 1980’s, she has a great understanding of what it means to run for the Razorbacks. We are thrilled she is joining our program and we think she has tons of potential."

Borge holds personal bests of 56.49 in the 400 meters and 2:09.14 in the 800 meters. While attending high school at Sandsli Videregaendes Kale, she competed for the club team BFG Fana in Bergen, Norway. Borge’s specialties will allow her to compete for a spot on the distance medley relay, indoor and outdoor 4×400-meter relays with the potential to also run the open races.

She is the daughter of Espen Borge who ran under John McDonnell (1985-86). Borge was a two-time All-American in the distance medley relay and in the 1,500 meters. He was also a member of the Southwest Conference title-winning distance medley relay. Borge later moved up to the 3,000-meter steeplechase and was a member of the Norwegian team at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, South Korea.

Borge joins Makeba Alcide (St. Lucia; multis), Alyssa Allison (Festus, Mo.; distance), Edina Brooks (Spring, Texas; sprints), Stephanie Brown (Downs, Ill.; middle distance), Katelin Cherry (Oklahoma City, Okla.; distance), Gwendolyn Flowers (Lakewood, Calif.; sprints), Regina George (Chicago, Ill.; sprints), Paige Johnston (Midlothian, Va.; middle distance), Shantel Thompson (St. Thomas, Jamaica; jumps) and Keri Wood (College Station, Texas; distance) as the new members of the women’s track and field team for 2009-10.