Learch White earn conference accolades

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Razorback women’s cross country team members Samantha Learch and Catherine White were awarded Southeastern Conference weekly honors, it was announced the league office on Tuesday.

White, a sophomore, has been named the SEC Athlete of the Week for the second week in a row. She paced the Razorback women’s cross country team to a meet win at the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic late Saturday night. Arkansas scored 22 points to top the 36-team field, including SEC foe Kentucky.

For the second time in as many weeks, White picked up an individual race win. She now totals three individual race wins in her young career (two in 2008, one in 2007). White clocked a time of 17:39.51, nearly 15 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. She beat 274 other runners including SEC foes from Kentucky. Her time is currently the fastest 5K in the SEC and is a PR by nearly 25 seconds (18:05 in 2007).

Learch was named the SEC Freshman of the Week. She competed in her first meet as a Razorback and earned a 17th-place finish. She was the sixth Arkansas runner to cross the finish line. She clocked a 5K best of 19:11.66.

Learch was the first of three Arkansas freshmen to finish and the second freshman overall to cross the line. She was one of six UA harriers to earn a top-20 finish.

Arkansas women’s cross country will compete next at the Bill Dellinger Invitational, hosted by the University of Oregon, October 4 in Springfield, Ore. For more information, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.