Vaulters highlight NCAA entries

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The NCAA Committee announced the accepted entries for NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships on Tuesday. The NCAA Championships will be held Wednesday-Saturday, June 10-13, at Arkansas’ John McDonnell Field.

Arkansas Razorback women’s track and field will be represented by 10 student-athletes in six events. The Razorbacks picked up five automatic qualifiers at the NCAA Mideast Regional Championships. Senior Christine Kalmer (5,000 meters), sophomore Catherine White (10,000 meters), sophomore Tara Diebold (pole vault) and senior Sarah Landau (pole vault) earned at-large bids.

Sophomore Shelise Williams will compete in the 400 meters. The 2009 SEC and NCAA Mideast Regional runner-up, she ranks eighth in the NCAA with a season best of 52.32. Sophomore Jillian Rosen will run the 1,500 meters. She ranks 22nd with a season-best time of 4:21.58.

In the distance events, seniors Denise Bargiachi (14th, 16:11.56) and Christine Kalmer (16th, 16:11.77) will run the 5,000 meters. Sophomore Catherine White, the SEC Runner of the Year, will compete in the 10,000 meters. Her season best of 33:37.83 ranks No. 6 on the NCAA list.

Senior Etienne Chaplin was an automatic qualifier in the heptathlon. She scored a season- and personal-best 5,594 points to win the 2009 SEC Outdoor title. She ranks ninth on the NCAA list.

The Razorbacks qualified four student-athletes in the pole vault. Junior Katie Stripling, the SEC Co-Field Athlete of the Year, leads the NCAA with a height of 14-5.25. Senior Sarah Landau is 20th with her mark of 13-7.25, sophomore Tara Diebold is 21st with a height of 13-6.25 and junior Janice Keppler ranks No. 23 with a season- and personal-best mark of 13-5.75.

The University of Arkansas and the Razorback Athletic Department will host the 2009 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships Wednesday-Saturday, June 10-13 at John McDonnell Field. Tickets are available by calling the Razorback Ticket office at 479-575-5151 or by visiting ArkansasRazorbacks.com. For meet information, a complete schedule of events and a fan guide, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Shelise Williams, 400 meters

Jillian Rosen, 1,500 meters

Denise Bargiachi, 5,000 meters

Christine Kalmer, 5,000 meters

Catherine White, 10,000 meters

Tara Diebold, pole vault

Sarah Landau, pole vault

Janice Keppler, pole vault

Katie Stripling, pole vault

Etienne Chaplin, heptathlon