Denise Bargiachi shines at Tyson

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Senior Denise Bargiachi was the star for Arkansas Razorback women’s track and field at the Tyson Invitational on Friday at the Randal Tyson Track Center.

"What a great race for Denise," head coach Lance Harter said. "That’s a huge personal best and it really shows how well her speed training is coming along. She works really hard and it’s paying off for her. She knows she’s a 5,000-meter runner so to see her excel in the 3,000 meters is really encouraging."

The Memphis, Tenn. native finished third in a stacked heat of the 3,000 meters. Bargiachi clocked a time of 9:29.63 to earn a bronze finish. Her time is a personal best, ranks second in the Southeastern Conference and provisionally-qualifies her for the NCAA Championships in March.

"Going in to the race I was really nervous," Bargiachi said. "I’ve been in big races but never with this many fans. I was really amped up. I ended up hitting it in the right ways. I was thinking about how this was my last race in this facility. I’ve never been in the televised portion of the race. I was really excited."

Also in the 3,000 meters, Christine Kalmer finished ninth with a time of 9:45.17. Sophomore Catherine White started the race but has been battling illness all week and did not finish the race.

In the invitational 4×400-meter relay, the quartet of senior Janine Davis, sophomore Shelise Williams, freshman Whitney Jones and junior Karen Thomas combined for a time of 3:40.14 and a bronze finish.

In the 800 meters earlier in the day, Davis clocked a time of 2:10.22 to finish 10th. Senior Lauren Lewis clocked a 2:10.83 to finish 11th and Samantha Learch ran a 2:12.58 for a 13th-place finish.

Jones also competed in the 60 meters, with a prelim time of 7.60 and a 19th-place finish, and the long jump, finishing 10th with a jump of 18-9.75. Sophomore Jillian Rosen finished eighth in the mile with a time of 4:53.08.

Competition at the Tyson Invitational continues Saturday, Feb. 14. For complete results and more information about Arkansas track and field, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Download: FriInvitational.pdf