Mt. SAC adds to qualifiers list

WALNUT, Calif. – Dacia Barr and Christine Kalmer each made the most of their opportunity at the Mt. San Antonio College (SAC) Relays with NCAA regional qualifiers in the 5,000- and 1,500-meter runs in Walnut, Calif.

What makes the duo’s accomplishment most interesting is the fact that neither was running in their primary event, but still managed to make the standard with plenty of time to spare.

“Dacia and Christine each ran very well,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “They were going up against some the nation’s best runners, both collegiate and post-collegiate, and held their own despite a fast pace.”

Barr finished sixth in her heat of the 5,000-meter run with a time of 16:36.93 with Kalmer taking 13th in heat of the 1,500 at 4:26.75. Both marks are career bests for the Lady Razorbacks, Barr a seven-second improvement and Kalmer’s three seconds better.

Also running in the 5,000 meters, Denise Bargiachi just missed out on both a career best and regional qualifier when she ran 16:55.49. Bargiachi ran in the same heat as her teammate Barr and the tandem worked well together through the first half of the race before Barr separated.

Seven Lady Razorbacks were also competing at the UCLA hosted Rafer Johnson-Jackie Joyner-Kerssee Invitational, but unfortunately, no qualifying marks came out of the competition. Perhaps the best Lady Razorback finisher at the meet was junior Caroline Peyton in the 1,500-meter run as she clocked 4:33.75, a career best. Peyton’s time finished eighth at the competition.

Arkansas was well represented in the 5,000 meters in Westwood with three runners who took eighth, 11th and 13th overall. Led by freshman Megan Jackson, Jennifer Harter and Beth Fahey would finish four seconds apart as they worked together against the top notch field. For Jackson the 5,000-meter competition was her first race at that distance and the Middlebury, Ind., native came within 24 seconds of the regional qualifying standard.

Lady Razorback athletes continue to compete at the John Jacobs Invitational throughout the weekend. For more information about Lady Razorback track or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to LADYBACKS.COM.