Lady'Backs solid but no improvement in Ames

AMES, Iowa – On the final day of qualifying competition prior to the 2007 NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships, the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback track team performed well but failed to improve upon its already robust list of NCAA qualifiers at the Cyclone Qualifier in Ames, Iowa.

“I thought that we performed very well,” Arkansas associate head coach Rolando Greene said. “Unfortunately, we were unable to improve our qualifiers, but I have faith that we will be a competitive team at the NCAA Championships.”

Competing in the 400 meters, long jump and 60 hurdles, the Lady Razorbacks sent four members of its track team to Iowa State Univ. Junior Tominque Boatright and senior Sasha Rolle ran the 400 with Boatright clocking another NCAA provisional mark, but was unable to improve on her NCAA standing. Rolle’s mark of 54.76 was a season best, but just missed out on the NCAA provisional standard.

The long jump saw junior Peter-Gaye Beckford take an individual championship, but her mark of 19 feet, 8 ¼ inches was well shy of her NCAA bubble mark of 20-4 ½. Currently, Beckford is ranked tied for 21st on the national descending order list and the NCAA committee generally accepts between 18-20 athletes per event.

Wrapping up the Iowa State contingent was senior Tiavannia Thompson in the 60-meter hurdles. Attempting to improve upon her season best of 8.33, Thompson clocked a very good opening time of 8.44 during preliminaries of the event. Just a couple of hours later she ran a near season and career best 8.36 seconds to take second overall.

The Lady Razorbacks conclude the indoor season next weekend at the NCAA Indoor Track & Field Championships in Fayetteville. For more information about Lady Razorback track or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to LADYBACKS.COM.