Lady'Backs head north for regional championship

COLUMBIA, Mo. – Fresh off their impressive second-place finish at the Southeastern Conference Championships, the 13th-ranked University of Arkansas Lady Razorback track team heads north to Columbia, Mo., to participate in the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships, the gateway to the NCAA meet in two weeks.

The Lady Razorbacks bring one of its largest contingents ever to the regional championships which are in its fifth year. After stints in Columbus, Ohio; Baton Rouge, La.; Bloomington, Ind.; and Knoxville, Tenn.; the University of Missouri gets its chance to host the regional meet. Student-athletes wishing to compete at the NCAA meet in two weeks must finish among the top five at the regional to guarantee a spot at the NCAA or finish among the top eight for an opportunity for an at-large berth.

“We come in with a lot of confidence,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “We did very well at the SEC and I hope that carries over to the regional. If all goes well we could have a lot of people at the national championship.”

The Lady Razorbacks have 21 athletes set for competition Friday and Saturday with 10 marks and times ranked among the region’s top five. An additional six are among the region’s top eight making the Lady Razorbacks a threat to the regional championship. Standing in Arkansas’s way however is their nemesis from Louisiana, LSU, who rode out of Tuscaloosa, Ala., with a conference championship and are looking to do the same at the regional meet. Also in contention are five additional teams ranked among the nation’s top 25 as well as the host Missouri.

A balanced attack is what Arkansas brings to the table in 2007. The Lady’Backs have athletes scheduled to compete in 15 of the 19 events including three in the javelin, 400 and pole vault. The Lady’Backs bring four to the 100-meter hurdles and have a great chance to snare regional championships in the 1,500, 5,000, 4×400 and pole vault.

The regional championships begin on Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. with the women’s hammer and continue through Saturday evening. For more information about Lady Razorback track or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to LADYBACKS.COM.