SEC awards for track Hogs

FAYETTEVILLE – Members of the Arkansas Razorback men’s and women’s track and field teams earned weekly accolades from the Southeastern Conference, it was announced Tuesday.

Junior Shelise Williams, the SEC Female Runner of the Week, competed in the 400 meters and as member of the 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relays at the John McDonnell Invitational. Williams won the invitational section of the 400 meters. She clocked a winning time of 52.29. Her time currently ranks No. 4 in the world, No. 2 in the NCAA, and leads the SEC. She ran the third leg of the 4×100-meter relay team that clocked a season-best time of 45.20 to earn a runner-up finish. She ran the third leg of the winning 4×400-meter relay with a 52.99 split. The quartet clocked a time of 3:37.41.

"Shelise Williams gets better every week," head coach Lance Harter said. "She really put on a show Saturday along with our sprint crew and freshman Regina George. They are doing some very special things. They are proving they can run with the best in the world, the NCAA and the SEC."

Sophomore Tina Sutej, the SEC Female Field Athlete of the Week, competed in the pole vault at the John McDonnell Invitational this weekend. She finished second overall and first among collegians with a height of 14-1.25. She led a 2-3-4 finish for Arkansas in the event. Her clearance is a personal best, matches the Slovenian National record, ranks tied for No. 3 in the NCAA and ties for the lead in the SEC.

"Tina Sutej and our pole vault crew are an integral part of this team," Harter said. "Clearing 14 feet outdoors is another major accomplishment for Tina and she’s getting better every week for us."

Freshman Caleb Cross, the SEC Male Freshman of the Week, competed in the 110-meter hurdles and as a member of the 4×400-meter relay at the John McDonnell Invitational this weekend. In the 110-meter hurdles, he clocked a prelim time of 14.03 and a final time of 14.21. His prelim time of 14.03 is a personal best, ranks No. 21 in the NCAA (No. 1 among freshmen) and No. 4 in the SEC (No. 1 among freshmen).

He also ran the third leg of the 4×400-meter relay with a 47.31 split, Arkansas’ fastest of the day. The quartet finished second with a season-best time of 3:10.71. The time ranks No. 9 in the SEC.

"Caleb Cross is running well for us right now," head coach Chris Bucknam said. "He’s so valuable to us in the hurdle events but is also proving to be a key component to our 4×400-meter relay. Our staff is happy with the way he is transitioning to and progressing in the collegiate hurdles."

The women’s squad will compete next at the Mt. SAC Relays, April 15-17, in Walnut, Calif. The men’s squad will travel to Austin, Texas for a dual meet with the Texas Longhorns on Sat., April 17.