Three earn SEC honors

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Senior Scott MacPherson and freshmen Regina George and Cobi Hamilton, members of the Arkansas Razorback men’s and women’s track and field teams, have earned weekly honors from the Southeastern Conference, it was announced Tuesday.

MacPherson, a native of Plano, Texas, is the SEC Male Runner of the Week. MacPherson won the 3,000 meters at the Arkansas vs. Texas dual meet. His winning time of 8:10.66 leads the SEC by four seconds and ranks second in the NCAA. MacPherson led a 1-2-3 finish for Arkansas in the 3,000 meters. MacPherson is undefeated in 2010 after winning the mile run at last week’s Arkansas Invitational.

Hamilton, a native of Texarkana, Texas, is the SEC Male Freshman of the Week. Hamilton made his Arkansas track and field debut on Saturday at the Arkansas vs. Texas dual meet. In his first collegiate race, he won the 200 meters in a time of 21.25. His time of 21.25 is a personal best, ranks No. 3 in the SEC and first among freshman and No. 5 in the NCAA and first among freshman. His time is also No. 9 on Arkansas’ all-time list and was just off the NCAA provisional qualifier of 21.23. He led a 1-4-5 finish for Arkansas in the event and boosted Arkansas’ point total for the win against Texas.

Hamilton is also a member of the Razorback football team. He played in 13 games, making 19 catches for 347 yards and three TDs. His most recent game, the AutoZone Liberty Bowl (Jan. 3), was just 13 days before winning the 200 meters.

George, a native of Chicago, Ill., is the SEC Female Freshman of the Week. In just her second competition as a Razorback, George picked up two victories at the Virginia Tech Invitational. She won the 800 meters in a time of 2:09.42, just off the NCAA provisional qualifier of 2:09 and she also ran the anchor leg of the 4×400-meter relay that won the event with an NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 3:36.43. Her 800-meter time ranks second in the SEC and first among freshman and ninth in the NCAA and third among freshman. The 4×400-meter relay’s winning time ranks No. 1 in the SEC and No. 1 in the NCAA.

Arkansas Razorback track and field will compete next as they host the Razorback Invitational, Jan. 22-23, 2010, at the Randal Tyson Track Center.