Keppler wins pole vault at Penn

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Arkansas Razorback sophomore Tina Sutej and senior Janice Keppler picked up wins in the college and championship pole vault for No. 18 women’s track and field on Thursday at the Penn Relays, in Philadelphia, Pa.

"We had a good start to the weekend today," head coach Lance Harter said. "Our vaulters competed well and we picked up two wins there. Our mile relay did their job and advanced to Saturday’s finals. Brittany Hyter had a nice personal best in the 400-meter hurdles this morning and got us off to a nice start."

Sutej won the championship pole vault. She cleared a winning height of 13-7.25. Senior Katie Stripling was second with a clearance of 13-3.5. Keppler won the college pole vault. She cleared 13-3.75. Senior Shantel Thompson was 22nd in the college long jump. She marked a leap of 18-1.5.

Sophomore Brittany Hyter finished seventh in the championship 400-meter hurdles. She clocked a personal-best time of 59.72. Freshman Leah Orley finished 26th with a time of 1:01.17. The 4×400-meter relay finished fourth in the heats and advanced to Saturday’s finals. Junior Shelise Williams (53.1), freshman Regina George (53.0), junior Edina Brooks (54.4) and sophomore Whitney Jones (53.5) clocked a time of 3:34.03.

The Razorbacks finished eighth in the championship distance medley. Freshman Stephanie Brown (3:26.29), senior Karen Thomas (53.45), sophomore Samantha Learch (2:09.76) and sophomore Kristen Gillespie (4:48.44) combined for a time of 11:17.94.

Freshman Natanya Luther competed in the championship 3,000 meters. She finished 21st with a time of 10:02.51. In the college 3,000-meter steeplechase, sophomore Cali George finished 10th with a time of 10:58.74.

Events will continue on Friday with Thompson in the triple jump at 10 a.m.