Lassiter gives back to Northwest Arkansas
Arkansas Razorback Seneca Lassiter was dominant in the middle distances during the late ‘90s and remains as one of Arkansas track and field’s most decorated student-athletes. He earned his bachelor’s degree in kinesiology in 2001.
Lassiter’s time in Fayetteville was monumental to his career and, in turn, he continues to give back to the Northwest Arkansas community as a public servant. Now with a master’s degree in hand, Lassiter is a health teacher and cross country and track and field coach at nearby Springdale High School.
The owner of two NCAA titles, 12 All-America certificates, 11 SEC individual and relay titles, Lassiter excelled in the 800 meters, the 1,500 meters and as a member of numerous sprint medley and distance medley relays. He picked up All-America honors three times in cross country, five times during the indoor seasons and four times outdoors.
His two NCAA titles both came in the 1,500 meters. He took the title in 1997 with a time of 3:40.22. He followed that up by repeating in 1998, this time winning with a clocking of 3:42.34.
On the SEC level, Lassiter was the winner of 11 SEC titles. Indoors, they came in the DMR (1997-99) and the 800 meters (1998-99). Outdoors, he won crowns in the 800 meters (1996, 1998-99) and the 1,500 meters (1997-99).
He holds the Arkansas record in the 1,500 meters with his time of 3:33.27, clocked in 1999. He ranks No. 2 on the indoor 800-meter list (1:46.96, 1998), No. 2 on the outdoor 800-meter list (1:45.18, 1999) and No. 8 on the mile list (3:57.22, 1999).
As a member of the distance medley relay, he was on teams that clocked the No. 2 (9:28.78, 1998), No. 7 (9:30.45, 1998) and No. 8 (9:31.03, 1998) times on Arkansas’ indoor top-10 list. Lassiter, along with Jeremy Huffman, Ryan Stanley and Michael Power, held the school record in the DMR until Arkansas’ current quarter of Alex McClary, Ben Skidmore, Chris Bilbrew and Dorian Ulrey dipped below it with a time of 9:28.35 in early February 2009.
During his time in Fayetteville, Lassiter was a member of two NCAA Cross Country Championship teams (1995, 1998), four SEC Cross Country Championship teams, three NCAA Indoor Championship teams (1997-99), three SEC Indoor Championship teams (1997-99), four NCAA Outdoor Championship teams (1996-99) and four SEC Outdoor Championship teams (1996-99).
The University of Arkansas’ Athletic Department recognizes its heritage and the countless contributions made by African-American student-athletes in all 19 of its varsity sports. The Razorbacks are proud to celebrate this great tradition and recognize some of the inspiring pioneers, great student-athletes and outstanding role models that have worn a Razorback uniform as a part of Black History Month.
