Orley wins pentathlon

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Freshman Leah Orley won the pentathlon on day one of the Razorback Invitational on Friday at the Randal Tyson Track Center for No. 17 Arkansas Razorback track and field.

"Leah is really going to be a contender in the pentathlon and the heptathlon, in the SEC and the NCAA," head coach Lance Harter said. "In her first collegiate multi, she did a great job and showed some toughness. She ran a 2:17 alone and that was impressive. Our 200-meter runners had a solid outing. Shelise Williams has really matured in her racing and it’s showing on the track. We have some important middle distance events tomorrow and the pole vault, so we are looking for some big marks out of those events."

Orley won her first collegiate pentathlon with 3,666 points. Her score leads the SEC and ranks No. 4 in the NCAA. She was just off the NCAA provisional point total of 3,725. She recorded marks of 9.07 in the 60-meter hurdles, 5-2.5 in the high jump, 34-5.75 in the shot put, 17-2.75 in the long jump and finished with a clocking of 2:17.65 in the 800 meters.

Teammate and freshman Makeba Alcide, a January incoming freshman, competed in her first collegiate pentathlon in her first collegiate competition on Friday. She finished fifth overall with 3,318 points. She recorded marks of 9.16 in the 60-meter hurdles, 5-2.5 in the high jump, 34-11.75 in the shot put, 15-11.75 in the long jump and finished with a time of 2:35.93 in the 800 meters.

Junior Shelise Williams led an Arkansas trio in the 200 meters. She finished seventh with a personal-best time of 24.09. Senior Karen Thomas was 18th with a clocking of 25.24. Freshman Gwendolyn Flowers clocked a season best of 25.53 to finish 30th.

In the jumps, junior transfer Shantel Thompson finished fifth in the high jump with her clearance of 5-6 and 15th in the long jump with her leap of 17-8.25.

Events will continue at 11 a.m. on Saturday.

The women’s cross country finalists for the 100 Years of the Razorback: Fan of the Century were recognized at tonight’s meet: Fred Spies from Fayetteville, Ark., Joanna Hudec from Fayetteville, Ark. and Chandra Denison from Huntsville, Ark. Hudec won the grand prize drawing that includes a travel bag of Razorback cross country equipment.

For continued coverage of Razorback track and field, log on to ArkansasRazorbacks.com.