Taylor Johnson win steeplechase at Texas Relays

AUSTIN, Texas – Sophomore Taylor Johnson won the 3,000-meter steeplechase and the sprint medley relay set a school record for Arkansas Razorback women’s track and field on day three of the 2010 Texas Relays, held at Mike A. Myers Stadium in Austin, Texas.

"Today was a great day," head coach Lance Harter said. "Our sprint medley relay ran their hearts out and smashed our school record. LSU has great speed up front. Regina George got us back in the race with her 400 meters and Stephanie Brown ran another admirable race. Taylor Johnson delivered more than we hoped for. I think we found her event and now she has the initial experience she needs to improve her race."

In her first collegiate steeplechase race, Johnson clocked a winning time of 10:50.60. She led for the entire race and never looked back. Since the event was introduced at the Texas Relays in 2000, Johnson is Arkansas’ third winner in the event and the first since Maureen Scott’s 2004 victory.

Sophomore Whitney Jones (200 meters),junior Shelise Williams(200 meters), freshman Regina George (400 meters) and freshman Stephanie Brown (800 meters) combined for a time of 3:44.40 to earn a runner-up finish in the sprint medley relay. The quartet also broke the school record in the event. The previous record of 3:48.25 was set in 2007 by Lakeisha Martin, Tominque Boatright, Jessica Cousins and Paige Farrell.

Brown, anchoring with the 800 meters for the second time in the last 24 hours, took the baton with LSU’s anchor LaTavia Thomas, also anchoring with the 800 meters for the second time in the last 24 hours. Brown chased Thomas for the two-lap race but was unable to catch her after out-kicking her in Thursday night’s 4×800-meter relay. Brown split 2:04.70.

In the prelims of the 4×400-meter relay, Arkansas’ quartet qualified for Saturday’s finals. Jones, junior Edina Brooks, freshman Gwendolyn Flowers and Williams combined for a time of 3:40.09 and finished seventh overall.

Sophomore Brittany Hyter finished 15th in the prelims of the 100-meter hurdles. She clocked a personal-best time of 13.77 (2.2w). Junior Shantel Thompson was sixth in the triple jump with a leap of 39-7.

Events will continue at 12 p.m. Saturday for the Razorbacks with seniors Katie Stripling and Janice Keppler and sophomore Tina Sutej in the "A" flight of the pole vault.