Distance stars shine at Mt. SAC

FAYETTEVILLE – No. 18 Arkansas Razorback women’s track and field took its best middle distance and distance runners to the Mt. SAC Relays Distance Carnival, in Walnut, Calif. on the campus of Mt. San Antonio College, this weekend.

"We are really pleased with what we got done this weekend," head coach Lance Harter said. "Cali George had a really big breakthrough in the steeplechase. Our 1,500-meter runners, Kristen Gillespie and Stephanie Brown, had awesome races. They are really starting to turn it on. Miranda Walker ran through some bad blisters in the 10K but she clocked a time we think will get her into the postseason. We had a pretty good weekend and we did what we came here to do."

In Friday’s Olympic Development section of the 1,500 meters, sophomore Kirsten Gillespie finished fifth and clocked a personal-best time of 4:22.56. Her time ranks fourth in the SEC. Freshman Stephanie Brown finished ninth and clocked a personal-best time of 4:24.71. Her time ranks sixth in the SEC.

Sophomore Cali George finished 10th in the Olympic Development section of the 3,000-meter steeplechase on Thursday night. She clocked a personal-best time of 10:43.25. Her time ranks No. 3 in the SEC. George has shaved more than 20 seconds off her PR in the last two weeks.

Junior Miranda Walker finished 11th in the invitational section of the 10,000 meters on Thursday night. She clocked an SEC-leading time of 34:58.50.

Sophomore Samantha Learch finished 30th in the university/open section of the 5,000 meters on Friday night. In her first collegiate 5K race, she clocked a time of 17:33.10.

The Razorbacks will compete next at Penn Relays, Thurs.-Sat., April 22-24.