Stripling earns bronze at NCAAs

COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Junior Katie Stripling picked up a bronze finish and the 4×400-meter relay scored points as Arkansas Razorback women’s track and field finished tied for 20th with 11 points at the NCAA Indoor Championships in College Station, Texas. The Razorbacks will bring eight All-America honors back to Fayetteville.

"Things shaped up pretty well for us today," head coach Lance Harter said. "Katie (Stripling) redeemed herself after a rough SEC meet to pick up another bronze finish in the pole vault. Her and Tara (Diebold) earned All-America honors along with the 4×400-meter relay. Whitney Jones ran another great anchor leg and she shows so much promise as an All-American freshman."

Stripling, a native of Jonesboro, Ark., earned her second-straight third-place finish in the NCAA pole vault. She cleared 13-11.25 and scored six points. She earned the second All-America honor of her career including her bronze finish from the 2008 NCAA Outdoor Championships. Her clearance is tied for the third best in school history.

"It’s really exciting to get third place," Stripling said. "It was great to be jumping well again and earn another All-American honor. It was great to have three of us out there and the support of your teammates while you are competing. I feel like the leader of our jump crew but this was a great experience for Tara (Diebold) and Tina (Sutej). They learned a lot from this experience."

Sophomore Tara Diebold finished ninth in the pole vault. She cleared 13-3.5. She was among the top eight Americans and earned the first All-America honor of her career. Freshman Tina Sutej finished 12th in the event with her height of 13-3.5.

The 4×400-meter relay was the final event of the day and the Arkansas quartet finished seventh. The group of junior Karen Thomas (55.09), sophomore Shelise Williams (52.63), senior Janine Davis (55.50) and freshman Whitney Jones (53.69) combined for a time of 3:36.90. Williams picked up her second All-America honor while Thomas, Davis and Jones earned their first certificate.

For complete results of the NCAA Indoor Championships, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com or AggieAthletics.com.

Denise Bargiachi, 5,000 Meters

Catherine White, 5,000 Meters

Karen Thomas, Shelise Williams, Janine Davis, Whitney Jones, 4x400M Relay

Tara Diebold, Pole Vault

Katie Stripling, Pole Vault