George earns SEC accolade

FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas Razorback freshman Regina George, a member of the women’s track and field team, garnered weekly accolades from the Southeastern Conference, it was announced Tuesday.

George, a freshman from Chicago, Ill., is the SEC Freshman of the Week. She ran the open 400 meters and the anchor leg of the 4×400-meter relay at the Tyson Invitational this weekend. In the last week, she has had three school record-setting performances.

"Regina George is a very special talent," head coach Lance Harter said. "We originally thought she would just be an 800-meter runner but she has proven that she can also contribute in the 400 meters. And her abilities as a member of our relay teams provide us with a great amount of depth. She’s one of the top freshmen in the NCAA, no matter what event she is competing in."

George finished ninth overall, fifth among collegians and first among freshmen in the open 400 meters on Friday. Her time of 53.73 is a personal best, ranks No. 16 in the NCAA (No. 1 among freshmen) and No. 5 in the SEC (No. 1 among freshmen). Her time is also an improved NCAA provisional qualifier.

As the anchor leg of the 4×400-meter relay, George ran with the quartet that clocked a new school record time of 3:32.87 on Saturday. Their time won the event, is an NCAA automatic qualifier, ranks No. 1 in the NCAA and the SEC. They replaced the previous school record of 3:33.18, set at the 2010 New Balance Collegiate Invitational.

The Razorbacks will compete next when they host the 2010 SEC Indoor Men’s and Women’s Track and Field Championships, Feb. 26-28, at the Randal Tyson Track Center.