FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – On day one of the Tyson Invitational Friday, junior Shelise Williams set her third school record of the week for No. 11 Arkansas Razorback women’s track and field.
Williams finished second in the 400 meters with a new Arkansas school record of 52.43. Her time is a personal best, ranks No. 2 in the NCAA and leads the SEC. Her time is an improved NCAA provisional qualifier and is just off the auto qualifier of 52.43.
“Every week, I just try to PR,” Williams said. “I’m so happy to get this school record and get closer to the automatic time. I knew Natasha Hastings was going to go through 200 meters in a fast time and I just tried to stay with her. I’m trying to make big things happen at SECs and NCAAs and this is good step forward.”
Williams replaced the previous 400-meter school record of 52.60, set by Jessica Cousins at the 2007 SEC Indoor Championships. In the last week, Williams has set school records in the open 400 meters, as the second leg of the 4x400-meter relay (3:33.18) and as the 400-meter second leg of the distance medley relay (11:06.56). Williams now holds the No. 1 (52.43) and No. 3 (52.72) marks on Arkansas’ all-time list.
“Shelise is just on a roll,” head coach Lance Harter said. “She’s getting smarter and stronger with her racing every week. She’s really going to make a statement at the SEC and NCAA Championships. And she’s going to do it on her home track.”
In the invitational sections of the mile, sophomore Kristen Gillespie clocked a personal-best and NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 4:43.91 to finish fifth. Sophomore Samantha Learch was 10th (4:53.46), senior Megan Jackson was 11th (4:54.38) and freshman Taylor Johnson was 20th (5:02.55).
Also in the 400 meters, freshman Regina George finished ninth (53.73), junior Edina Brooks was 17th (54.63), senior Karen Thomas was 49th (56.32) and freshman Martine Borge was 79th (58.26). In the invitational 800 meters, freshman Stephanie Brown was sixth (2:08.50), freshman Regina George was ninth (2:09.46) and freshman Natanya Luther was 17th (2:13.86).
Sophomore Whitney Jones finished third in the collegiate long jump. She marked a season best of 19-11.5. Junior Shantel Thompson finished 15th with her mark of 18-8.
Sophomore Tina Sutej finished fourth overall and first among collegians in the invitational pole vault. She cleared 14-1.75. Senior Katie Stripling was fifth with a height of 14-1.75. Senior Janice Keppler finished 11th with her clearance of 13-3.75.
Bailey, Ulrey qualify for NCAAs at Tyson meet
Seniors Alain Bailey and Dorian Ulrey picked up NCAA automatic-qualifying marks in their respective events on day one of the Tyson Invitational for No. 8 Arkansas Razorback men’s track and field.
“Getting two auto qualifiers, that’s a good day,” head coach Chris Bucknam said. “Alain Bailey made a statement in the long jump and came out of his shell. Dorian Ulrey got his auto time in the mile and now he can focus on training. I was impressed with Scott MacPherson’s toughness in the 5,000 meters and he got the job done.”
Senior Dorian Ulrey was running for the collegiate record in the mile (3:55) but fell just short with his time of 3:57.80 to finish fourth. He did clock an NCAA auto time, ranks No. 2 is the NCAA and leads the SEC.
Senior Scott MacPherson led a trio of Razorbacks to provisional qualifiers in the 5,000 meters. He finished second with a time of 13:51.43. Freshman Solomon Haile was fifth in 13:58.03 and freshman Eric Fernandez was sixth in 14:08.46. All three were under the NCAA provisional-qualifying time of 14:10.
“I’m ready to go faster and that could definitely happen at SECs,” MacPherson said. “You never know with our conference and I have to be prepared for anything. I had a better finish in tonight’s race than I’ve had all season. I’m really working hard on that part of my race.”
In the invitational flight of the long jump, Bailey won the event with an NCAA automatic jump of 26-2.75. His mark is a personal best, ranks No. 2 in the NCAA and the SEC and is the No. 6 jump in school history. Sophomore Tarik Batchelor finished fourth in the event. His best jump of the day measured 25-7.25 and is an improved NCAA provisional-qualifying mark.
Events continue at the 2010 Tyson Invitational at 12 p.m. Saturday.
