Three more qualifiers at NCAA West prelims

AUSTIN, Texas -No. 9 Arkansas Razorback women’s track and field picked up three more qualifiers at the NCAA West preliminary rounds on Saturday, at Mike A. Myers Stadium, in Austin, Texas.

"Not only are we advancing to the NCAA meet but we are doing it with nationally competitive marks and times," head coach Lance Harter said. "We need to keep this momentum going by staying focused and staying healthy. We need to take advantage of every scoring opportunity at the NCAA Championships. It’s not going to be easy, especially when the other half of the U.S. joins us in Eugene but our performances have proven to be nationally competitive."

In the 4×400-meter relay, Arkansas won its heat and finished second overall. Sophomore Whitney Jones, junior Shelise Williams, senior Karen Thomas and freshman Regina George combined for a season-best time of 3:31.03, the No. 5 time in school history.

Junior Shantel Thompson finished tied for fourth in the triple jump and will compete at the NCAA meet. Her best jump of the day measured 42-11.5, a personal best and the No. 5 jump in school history.

Sophomore Brittany Hyter will pull double duty at the NCAA Championships with advancement in Friday’s 400-meter hurdles and Saturday’s 100-meter hurdles. In the shorter race, she finished fourth in her heat and 11th overall with a personal-best time of 13.36. She clocked her fourth PR in three days and as many races.

Sophomore Kristen Gillespie finished 21st in the 1,500 meters with a time 4:30.20. Junior Miranda Walker finished 20th in the 5,000 meters with a time of 17:04.97. They did not advance in their respective events.

Arkansas will be represented by 10 student-athletes in seven events at the NCAA Championships, in Eugene, Ore., June 9-12.