Denton named SEC Female Runner of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas senior Aneita Denton was named the Southeastern Conference’s Female Runner of the Week on Wednesday following her tremendous performance at the Mt. SAC Relays over the weekend.

Denton, the NCAA Champion at 800 meters indoors, ran her first outdoor 800-meter run at the relays and posted the third fastest time in the world this year when she ran 2:03.94. Easily the national leader in the event by two seconds, Denton trails only fellow Jamaican Kenia Sinclair (2:02.80) and Brazil’s Juliana Paula de Azevedo (2:03.79) on the world’s fastest times list administered by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

“This is an honor that Aneita certainly deserves,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “She has been leading a very charmed life this year and has stayed healthy. She has elevated her work ethic and the results are really paying off. Aneita had some very lofty goals this year and looking at them now, they are all very real.”

The athlete of the week honor is the first in Denton’s career as she becomes the eighth Lady Razorback to earn the award since 2000. The last to be named athlete of the week was former teammate and two-time Olympic gold medalist Veronica Campbell on April 21, 2004.

The Lady Razorbacks are back in action this Saturday afternoon when they compete at home for the only time this season at John McDonnell Field. Events begin at 9:00 a.m. with field events, running event finals begin at 5:00 p.m. For more information about Lady Razorback track or about Arkansas Women’s Athletics, visit www.ladybacks.com.