SEC picks Dorian Ulrey again
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – For the second time in as many weeks, Arkansas Razorback junior Dorian Ulrey has been named the Southeastern Conference’s Runner of the Week, it was announced on Tuesday.
"This is another great accomplishment for Dorian," head coach Chris Bucknam said. "He has been training really well and clearly it’s paying off. He knows there is still work to be done and plenty of races left this season. I’m really happy and proud of all the success he has had and how hard he has worked for it."
Ulrey won the distance medley relay and the 3,000 meters at the UW Invitational, clocking the nation’s leading times in both events. As the DMR anchor, Ulrey clocked a mile split of 3:54 to hold off Oregon’s anchor 2008 Olympian and NCAA Cross Country Champion Galen Rupp.
The group’s winning time of 9:28.35 is an Arkansas school record, a Dempsey Indoor Track record, an NCAA automatic-qualifying mark and the national and SEC leader. The time of 9:28.35 replaces the previous school record of 9:28.78 set by Seneca Lassiter, Jeremy Huffman, Ryan Stanley and Michael Power at the Iowa State Classic in 1998.
Coming off a superb mile anchor on the DMR, Ulrey stunned the crowd again by winning the invitational 3,000 meters the next day. Teammate Shawn Forrest led for most of the race and was passed by Ulrey coming off the final turn.
Ulrey’s winning time in the 3K, 7:50.86, is the national leader, the SEC leader and automatically qualifies him for the NCAA Championships in March. Ulrey is now automatically qualified for three events at the NCAA Championships – the mile, the 3,000 meters and the DMR.
Ulrey’s 3,000-meter clocking also ranks No. 6 on Arkansas’ all-time list. For the third race in seven days, Ulrey has inked his name to the Arkansas record books. He also ranks No. 1 on the Arkansas list as a member of the DMR and No. 9 for his 3:57.66 mile.
The Razorbacks will compete next at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational, Feb. 6-7, at the Armory Track Center in New York. For more information on Arkansas track and field, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.
