Penn Relays await surging Lady'Backs

PHILADELPHIA – Fresh off some of its best weeks of the year, the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback track team heads to the city of brotherly love, Philadelphia, Pa., to compete at one of the most prestigious track events in the world, the Penn Relays.

Over the years, Arkansas has had tremendous success at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field, winning a pair of “wagon wheels” and six individual championships in the competition’s championships division. While Arkansas’ exploits are a part of its recent past, none of the current Lady Razorbacks won any of those titles, a trend they hope to change in 2006.

“We are getting better every week,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “I sometimes have to remind myself that this team is very young. They have achieved great things this year, but their best days could be in 2007 or 2008. Either way, I expect us to be very competitive at the Penn Relays and pick up several qualifiers for the NCAA regional meet and improve on some others. This is our last chance to concentrate on qualifying with the SEC Championships just two weeks away.”

The Lady Razorbacks have split their squads over the past several weeks as the distance, sprint and field event teams have gone to the competitions that would best suit their individual needs, but because of the level of competition converging on Philadelphia, all but a trio of Lady’Backs will make their way to the Penn Relays. Competition begins Thursday morning with the hammer throw and javelin and runs throughout the day into the evening when the distance team takes center stage. Friday’s action calls for relays and the sprints.

For more information about Lady Razorback track or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.