Hogs Elite Team For Fifth-Consecutive Year
NEW ORLEANS – Having completed the year with two top-10 NCAA finishes and one top-20 finish, the Arkansas women’s track and field team wraps up its 2016-17 campaign as a USTFCCCA top-three program for the fifth-consecutive year.
Prior to the 2017 NCAA Outdoor Championships the Razorbacks sat at No. 5 in the Terry Crawford Program of the Year standings behind Oregon, Colorado, Stanford and Michigan. Arkansas’ sixth place finish at outdoor nationals propelled them ahead of Michigan and into a tie for third with Stanford.
The Program of the Year Award, named for Cal Poly legendary coach Terry Crawford, recognizes the women’s team that has the best combined results across the NCAA cross country and indoor and outdoor track and field seasons with points distributed based on team finish. To be considered for the award, a team must qualify for the NCAA Championships in all three seasons. Upon completion of the outdoor championship, points from each season are added with the award recipient being the team with the lowest combined total.
Program of the Year Top Five
1. Oregon – 3
2. Colorado – 22
3. Arkansas – 30
3. Stanford – 30
5. Michigan/Missouri – 41.50
This past fall the Razorbacks began their trek towards the distinguished award with a top-20 finish at the 2016 NCAA Cross Country Championships (19th) led by All-American freshman Taylor Werner. Arkansas carried that momentum into the indoor season, capitalizing on the efforts of several returning track and field All-American to post a top-five finish at nationals (fifth).
The Razorbacks finished strong, scoring 38 points in Eugene, Oregon at NCAA outdoors, which placed the team sixth and brought their combined total for the year to 30. Head coach Lance Harter’s program produced 35 All-Americans through the fall, winter and spring competition seasons.
Past Winners
2016-2017: Oregon (1st), Colorado (2nd), Arkansas/Stanford (3rd)
2015-2016: Oregon (1st), Arkansas (2nd), Oklahoma State (3rd)
2014-2015: Oregon (1st), Arkansas (2nd), Stanford (3rd)
2013-2014: Oregon (1st), Stanford (2nd), Arkansas (3rd)
2012-2013: Oregon (1st), Arizona (2nd), Arkansas (3rd)
2011-2012: Oregon (1st), Stanford (2nd), Washington (3rd)
2010-2011: Oregon (1st), Arizona (2nd), Villanova (3rd)
2009-2010: Oregon (1st), Florida (2nd), Penn State (3rd)
2008-2009: Oregon (1st), Florida State (2nd), Arizona State (3rd)
2017 Outdoor First Team All-America (11)
Jada Baylark (4-x-100)
Taliyah Brooks (Heptathlon)
Leigha Brown (Heptathlon)
Desiree Freier (Pole Vault)
Daina Harper (400, 4-x-100)
Nikki Hiltz (1,500)
Kiara Parker (4-x-100)
Payton Stumbaugh (4-x-100)
Lexi Weeks (Pole Vault)
Tori Weeks (Pole Vault)
2017 Outdoor Second All-America (5)
Damajahnee Birch (400 Meter Hurdles, 4-x-400)
Daina Harper (4-x-400)
Sunkietra McCallister (4-x-400)
Kiara Parker (4-x-400)
2017 NCAA Outdoor Honorable Mention
Jada Baylark (100)
Abby Gray (5,000)
Therese Haiss (1,500)
Kelsey Herman (Heptathlon)
Kiara Parker (100)
Payton Stumbaugh (Heptathlon)
Taylor Werner (5,000)
2017 Indoor First Team All-America (8)
Taliyah Brooks (Pentathlon)
Leigha Brown (Pentathlon)
Desiree Freier (Pole Vault)
Therese Haiss (Mile)
Daina Harper (400)
Nikki Hiltz (Mile)
Lexi Weeks (Pole Vault)
Tori Weeks (Pole Vault)
2017 Indoor Second Team All-America (11)
Taliyah Brooks (Long Jump)
Daina Harper (4-x-400)
Kelsey Herman (Pentathlon)
Sunkietra McCallister (4-x-400)
Brianna Swinton (DMR, 4-x-400)
Regan Ward (DMR)
Ceara Watson (DMR, 4-x-400)
Taylor Werner (3,000, DMR)
2017 Cross Country All-America (1)
Taylor Werner
For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.
