SMR Earns Runner-Up Finish at Drake Relays

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Arkansas Lady Razorback track and field concluded competition at Drake Relays on Saturday. Bad weather led to poor competition conditions and prevented the Lady’Backs from getting into any kind of rhythm because of relentless wind gusts and chilly temperatures.

"The weather was really the dominating factor for us this weekend," head coach Lance Harter said. "Our sprint medley relay finished second and Jillian Rosen had a nice PR in the 1,500 meters so we had a few positives. Now we have to regroup and hope Mother Nature works in our favor this weekend at our Twilight meet and at the Cardinal Invite at Stanford."

For the second year in a row, Arkansas’ sprint medley relay earned runner-up honors. Dominque Lauderdale, Peter-Gaye Beckford, Shelise Williams and Paige Farrell finished second of the 18 competing teams. They combined for a time of 3:53.19.

"The sprint medley relay was in contention the whole race," Harter said. "Paige Farrell had a really solid race and she ran into the wind on the final straightaway. Shelise Williams had great legs on both the sprint medley and the 4×400-meter relays."

Freshman Jillian Rosen set a personal best in the 1,500 meters. She finished sixth in the field of 13 with a clocking of 4:29.05.

Beckford, competing in her third event of the weekend, finished eighth in the long jump with a best of 19-9.5.

Jennifer Fall clocked a time of 1:03.39 in her heat of the 400-meter hurdles. She finished fourth in her heat and 19th overall.

After running Friday’s fastest prelim time, Arkansas’4×400-meter relay was disqualified from the final because of a uniform violation.

At Friday’s Missouri Southern Invitational, Lauren Lewis won the 800 meters. Beating 16 other runners, she clocked a time of 2:16.42. Ashley Williams finished sixth in the 1,500 meters. She clocked a time of 4:58.06.

Michelle Rossio competed in three events in Joplin. She finished second in the shot put (46-4), third in the hammer (166-5) and won the discus (155-0).

The Lady’Backs will compete next at the Arkansas Twilight, Friday, May 2, and the Cardinal Invitational, Sunday, May 4. For complete results of Drake Relays, visit www.drakerelays.org.