Stripling named SEC Field Athlete of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE – Sophomore Katie Stripling of the University of Arkansas Lady Razorback track team was named the Southeastern Conference Field Athlete of the Week on Tuesday afternoon after clearing a national leading 13 feet, 8 ¼ inches in the pole vault at the Arkansas Invitational last Friday evening.

Stripling’s vault was two inches better than the next best vault in the nation and a one foot career best for the sophomore from Jonesboro, Ark. Stripling’s mark also ties the fifth best mark in Arkansas Lady Razorback history.

“Wow, that was a great performance,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “This is just another tribute to the outstanding job Bryan Compton does. As far as consistency, Bryan is at the top of the class. He is not a politician or a diplomat, but his productivity is phenomenal. Katie has made progress by leaps and bounds since she has arrived here.”

The SEC Athlete of the Week award is the second for Stripling in the past nine months. She was named the SEC Athlete of the Week on May 1 after her first collegiate victory at the prestigious Penn Relays. She is the second Lady Razorback pole vaulter to garner two SEC Athlete of the Week awards following in the footsteps of April Steiner who nabbed one honor in 2001 and her second in 2003.

The Lady Razorbacks are on the road this weekend for the SEC-Big Ten Challenge in Bloomington, Ind., on Saturday afternoon. For more information about Lady Razorback track or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to LADYBACKS.com.