Thompson named SEC Runner of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE – Senior Tiavannia Thompson was named the Southeastern Conference’s Runner of the Week for her performance in the 60-metert hurdles at the Sooner Open last weekend.

Thompson clocked a career best in the race to qualify for the NCAA Championships and place herself 17th in the nation heading into conference championship weekend. Thompson’s effort dropped her career best time by more than two-tenths of a second to 8.33.

“This is a tremendous honor for Tia,” Arkansas associate head coach Rolando Greene said. “I am so proud of her for this. She has worked incredibly hard since the beginning of the year and to get a qualifier is well deserved.”

Thompson is the first Lady Razorback to earn track runner of the week honors since former Lady’Back Aneita Denton took the award in late April 2005. She is the 12th woman in Lady Razorback history to be honored on the track and 18th when cross country is included. The SEC started awarding athlete of the week honors during the 2000 cross country and track seasons. Thompson is also the first Lady Razorback to be honored for her prowess in the hurdles.

The Lady Razorbacks travel to Lexington, Ky., to face the rest of the Southeastern Conference at the league indoor track championships, Friday-Sunday, Feb. 23-25. For more information about Lady Razorback track or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.