Kemp, 4x400 qualify for Drake finals

FAYETTEVILLE – The No. 11 University of Arkansas women’s track and field team picked up a pair of qualifiers Friday afternoon for finals at Drake Relays in Des Moines, Iowa. Ivanique Kemp will represent the Razorbacks in the 100-meter hurdle final while the 4×400-meter relay enter Saturday’s final as the top qualifier in the event. Arkansas also had a runner-up finish in the 4×200-meter relay.

"I thought we ran really well in some tough, windy conditions today," associate head coach Rolando Greene said. "Our goal coming in was to win the 4×200, 4×400 and sprint-medley relays. We got second in the 4×200 but we still have the opportunity to win two titles Saturday. Heading into our Twilight meet next week and the SEC Championships, we are in position and poised to do some really great things on the track, individually and as a team."

Running in the opening heat of the 100-meter hurdles prelims, Kemp finished third in her section with a time of 13.81, good enough for a sixth-place overall qualifier. Teammate Brittany Hyter finished second in heat three but her time of 13.96 was the ninth fastest of the day, one spot out of advancing to the finals. Saturday’s championship final is scheduled for 2:35 p.m. (CT).

In Arkansas’ final event of the day, the 4×400 relay of Regina George, Shelise Williams, Gwendolyn Flowers and Hyter posted the fastest qualifying time with a combined effort of 3:33.72, the team’s third-fastest performance of the season. Saturday’s final is scheduled for 5:32 p.m. and will also include the teams from Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Iowa, Illinois, Nebraska, Baylor and Tulsa. The Razorbacks will be looking for their first relay win at the Drake meet since the 2007 season.

The 4×200-meter relay team of Kemp, Flowers, George and Rachel Werner finished with a runner-up showing in the event. The foursome combined to get the baton around the track twice in a time of 1:33.96, the second-fastest time in school history. The top four teams in the event all came out of heat three.

Makeba Alcide posted Arkansas’ only field result of the day. Competing in the university section of the high jump, the Razorback sophomore tied for ninth place with a jump of 5-7. She was one of six jumpers in the competition to finish at that height. Showing consistent improvement in the high jump, the best three clearances of her career have come in her last three competitions.

In addition to Saturday’s finals, the Razorbacks will close out competition at Drake Relays with scheduled action in the 400-meter hurdles, sprint-medley relay, shuttle-hurdle relay, long jump and triple jump. For more information and continued meet-day coverage, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.