Track sweeps SEC weekly awards

FAYETTEVILLE – Freshmen Stephanie Brown, Regina George and Caleb Cross and seniors Katie Stripling and Alain Bailey, members of the Arkansas Razorback men’s and women’s track and field teams, earned weekly awards from the Southeastern Conference, it was announced on Tuesday.

At the Arkansas Twilight, George, named the SEC Female Runner of the Week, competed in the 200 meters, the 400 meters and as a member of the 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relays. George won the 200 meters with a time of 23.63. She paced a 1-4-7 finish for Arkansas in the event. She also won the 400 meters with a personal-best time of 52.89. Her time currently ranks No. 12 in the NCAA (No. 1 among freshman) and No. 5 in the SEC (No. 1 among freshman). George’s time was more than a second faster than the second-place finisher’s clocking of 54.11. She led a 1-4-8-10 finish for Arkansas in the events.

With George’s second leg of the 4×100-meter relay, the quartet clocked a winning time of 45.35, nearly a second faster than the runner-up team. With her second leg of the 4×400-meter relay, the quartet clocked a winning time of 3:34.30, nearly three seconds faster than the runner-up team.

Stripling, named the SEC Female Field Athlete of the Week, won the pole vault with a winning clearance of 14-5.5 at the Arkansas Twilight. Her clearance is a personal best and the Arkansas school record. She replaced her previous school record of 14-5.25, set at the 2009 SEC Championships. Stripling is now the NCAA and SEC leader in the event. Her jump also ranks No. 3 in the world. She leads the SEC by nearly four inches. Stripling led a 1-2-4 finish for the Razorbacks in the pole vault.

At the Arkansas Twilight, Brown, named the SEC Female Freshman of the Week, won the 800 meters with a season- and personal-best time of 2:05.71. Her time ranks No. 8 in the NCAA (No. 2 among freshman) and No. 5 in the SEC (No. 1 among freshman). She led a 1-3-12 finish for Arkansas in the event.

Cross, the SEC Male Freshman of the Week, competed in the 110-meter hurdles and as a member of the 4×100-meter and 4×400-meter relays at the Arkansas Twilight. Cross finished second in the 110-meter hurdles with a personal-best time of 13.90. His time ranks No. 29 in the NCAA (No. 4 among freshman) and No. 4 in the SEC (No. 1 among freshman).

With Cross’ lead-off leg on the 4×100-meter relay, the quartet clocked a season-best time of 40.84 to earn a runner-up finish. With his lead-off leg split of 47.22 on the 4×400-meter relay, the quartet clocked a season-best and winning time of 3:08.46. They rank No. 7 in the SEC, No. 46 in the NCAA and No. 22 in the NCAA West Region. The 4×400-meter relay time of 3:08.46 is the fastest an Arkansas team has clocked since the 2005 season.

At the Arkansas Twilight, Bailey, the SEC Male Field Athlete of the Week, competed in the long jump and as a member of the 4×100-meter relay. Bailey won the long jump with a leap of 25-9.5. He has not finished lower than second in a long jump competition this season and, in three competitions, his jumps have been 25-9.25 or longer. His season-best jump of 26-2.75 ranks No. 2 in the NCAA and leads the SEC. With Bailey’s second leg in the 4×100-meter relay, the quartet clocked a season-best time of 40.84 to earn a runner-up finish.

The Razorbacks will compete next at the SEC Championships, Thurs.-Sun., May 13-16, in Knoxville, Tenn.