Cooper 4x4 Advance to Finals at Drake Relays

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Lady Razorback track and field battled an angry Mother Nature today at Drake Relays. Cold temperatures and strong winds made for difficult competition conditions but the Lady’Backs made the best of it.

Makeatha Cooper clocked a prelim time of 13.81, her second-fastest of the season, in the 100-meter hurdles. She qualified for Saturday’s finals, finishing seventh of 21 competitors and third in her heat.

Arkansas 4×400-meter relay clocked the fastest prelim time with a 3:39.92. Courtenay Brown, Shelise Williams, Paige Farrell and Jennifer Fall, beating 33 other teams in the prelims, advanced to Saturday’s finals in the event with their regional-qualifying time.

The pole vault was the event most affected by the poor conditions at Drake. Katie Stripling, Kristen Keith and Sarah Landau were the thee Lady’Backs who competed. Stripling finished tied for 12th (12-1.5), Keith was tied for 21st (11-11.75) and Landau tied for 21st (11-11.75). All three have already cleared the regional-qualifying height of 12-7.5.

The defending champions, the Lady’Backs’ 4×200-meter relay finished fifth out of 17 teams competing. Dominque Lauderdale, Williams, Peter-Gaye Beckford and Cooper combined for a clocking of 1:38.45.

Also on the track, Dacia Barr clocked a 2:10.95 to finish ninth in the 800 meters and Lauderdale finished 20th in the 100 meters with a time of 12.34 (3.3 wind).

Drake Relays will conclude on Saturday and Arkansas is scheduled to compete in the sprint medley relay, the finals of the 4×400-meter relay, various running events and the long jump. For complete results from Drake Relays, visit www.drakerelays.org.