Track splits up for additional qualifiers

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas Lady Razorback track team splits its forces this weekend with a small contingent traveling to the UW Invitational in Seattle, Wash., and a larger group competing at the J.D. Martin Invitational in Norman, Okla., in search of additional NCAA qualifiers for the fourth-ranked team in the nation.

Making their way to the northwest portion of the country are eight Lady Razorback distance runners who will race in either the 3,000 or 5,000-meter run. The Univ. of Washington’s track is an oversized flat track that has been known to produce great times in the longer distance races making it an ideal place for Lance Harter’s Lady Razorbacks to go for their first qualifiers of the season.

“Washington has a phenomenal facility for distance races,” Harter said. “This is going to be a clash of the titans this weekend. This is our first trip to this meet, but it is the place where everyone goes to get a qualifier. This facility is very much like Stanford’s outdoor track. It’s a place where you have to run fast or you’ll get run over.”

The drive to Norman, Okla., was made by the Lady Razorback sprint crew who are looking for a tune up before they make their way to the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York City next weekend. Racing in mostly off events, Arkansas’ sprinters plan to use the Univ. of Oklahoma’s home meet as a chance to work on their starts and stamina as they run mostly longer than they might on a normal weekend.

Action at the UW Invitational begins late Friday night and runs through Saturday while the J.D. Martin is scheduled for Saturday. For more information about Lady Razorback track or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.