Regina George earns SEC award

FAYETTEVILLE – The 2010 Southeastern Conference indoor track and field post-season awards were announced on Thursday.

Regina George is the SEC co-Freshman Runner of the Year. Sharing the award with Florida’s Lanie Whittaker, George is the first Razorback woman to win this award since Stacie Manuel was named the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2003.

"Regina George has been an integral part of our team all season," head coach Lance Harter said. "She is definitely one to watch, no matter what event she is competing in. She’s the top freshman quarter-miler in the NCAA and plays a vital role as the anchor leg of our 4×400-meter relay. This is a great honor for her and I’m sure it’s the first of many to come during her Razorback career."

George finished sixth in the 400 meters and ran the anchor leg on the winning 4×400-meter relay at the 2010 SEC Indoor Championships. In the open 400 meters, George finished sixth overall and second among freshmen with a time of 54.56. She clocked a prelim time of 53.98.

George split 53.32 as the anchor leg of the SEC title-winning 4×400-meter relay, her third 400-meter race of the weekend. The quartet won Arkansas’ first-ever SEC 4×400-meter title.

Her season and personal best in the open 400 meters, 53.73, is an NCAA provisional qualifier, ranks No. 23 in the NCAA and No. 1 among freshmen and No. 6 in the SEC and No. 1 among freshmen. Her season and personal best in the open 800 meters, 2:09.42, ranks No. 12 in the SEC and No. 2 among freshmen.

Arkansas’ season best of 3:32.87 in the 4×400-meter relay, with George’s 52.9 anchor leg, is the NCAA’s only auto qualifier of 2010, ranks No. 1 in the world, the NCAA and the SEC and is the Arkansas school record. With George as the anchor, Arkansas’ 4×400-meter relay has not lost a race this season.

Arkansas’ season best of 11:06.56 in the distance medley relay, with George’s 2:07.2 800-meter leg, is an NCAA provisional qualifier, ranks No. 5 in the NCAA, No. 2 in the SEC and is the Arkansas school record.

Arkansas finished second in the team race with 82 points at the 2010 SEC Indoor Championships. The Razorbacks’ runner-up finish is their highest since earning the same spot at the 2005 championships.

Razorback women’s track and field will compete next at the Arkansas Last Chance, Fri., March 5, at the Randal Tyson Track Center. For more information, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.