Walker Hogs win at MSSU

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Junior Miranda Walker and the Arkansas Razorback women’s cross country team picked up their second win of the season at Saturday’s Missouri Southern Stampede.

Walker led the Razorbacks to a 23-45 win over the hosting MSSU Lions. Arkansas scored five runners in the top seven, seven in the top 13 and all nine finishers in the top 40. The Razorbacks cut the time between the first finisher and the fifth by 17 seconds with a spread of 50 seconds at the Arkansas Invitational and 33 seconds at the MSSU Stampede.

"This race was very positive for us," head coach Lance Harter said. "At this point in the season, you are always looking for improvement. Miranda Walker is proving she is a consistent front runner for us and our top five are taking her lead. Our pack is running closer together and our goal is to decrease that time between our first and fifth runners as the season progresses."

Walker, a junior from Southlake, Texas, won the women’s collegiate 5,000-meter race in a time of 17:23.64. She shaved nearly 23 seconds off her 5K best, replacing her previous best of 17:46 clocked in 2006.

"This feels good," Walker said. "Our training has been increasing and each meet we are going to face tougher and tougher competition. This is all in preparation for the SEC Championships and we are getting the ball rolling."

Freshman Alyssa Allison had another stellar showing. She earned a runner-up finish behind Walker with her 5K time of 17:30.59. Sophomore Samantha Learch was third among the Razorbacks and fourth overall. She clocked a personal-best 5K time of 17:37.21, replacing her previous best of 19:11.66.

Senior Megan Jackson was seventh overall and fourth among the Razorbacks, crossing the line in a time of 17:46.24. She replaced her previous personal best of 18:07. Rounding out the Razorback scorers was sophomore Kristen Gillespie. In just her second race as a Razorback, Gillespie finished ninth overall with a time of 17:56.22.

Freshman Taylor Johnson finished 12th, clocking an 18:02.56. Sophomore Cali George’s time of 18:04.18 earned a 13th-place finish. Senior Ashley Williams was 19th (18:21.63) and freshman Keri Wood was 40th (18:51.20).

Arkansas Razorback women’s cross country will compete next at the Wisconsin Invitational, Oct. 3, in Madison, Wis. For more information, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.

Download: MSSU Women’s 5K.pdf