George named SEC Runner of the Week

FAYETTEVILLE – For the second time this season, senior sprinter Regina George has been named the Southeastern Conference Runner of the Week. During last weekend’s Tyson Invitational, George won the 400 meters in school-record, world-leading fashion. This marks the fifth SEC honor of the season for the second-ranked Razorbacks with two for George and one each for Makeba Alcide (Jan. 29), Sandi Morris (Jan. 22) and Tamara Myers (Jan. 15).

George shattered the Arkansas school record and posted a world-leading time of 51.67 in winning the invitational section of the 400 meters at the Tyson Invitational. Additionally, she extended her NCAA lead in the event and is the only collegian under 52 seconds this season. George finished more than a second ahead of the 400-meter field that included five athletes with times inside the nation’s top 15.

“(Regina) really made a statement about what she intends to do as this season continues,” head coach Lance Harter said. “She’s obviously very gifted and special, and a great role model for others to follow as far as competition goes because once she puts on that jersey, she’s ready to go.”

With her performance Friday, George replaced the previous school mark of 52.10 set by former teammate Shelise Williams in 2011, and now owns the indoor and outdoor 400-meter school records. George took more than half a second off her previous lifetime best of 52.26 which she ran earlier this season. The previous 2013 world-leading time of 51.82 was set by Ebony Floyd.

George also turned in a split of 51.72 as the lead-off leg for the Razorbacks’ 4x400-meter relay team that posted a season-best time of 3:31.78, the No. 3 time in the NCAA this season. The 4x400-meter final at the Tyson Invitational produced six of the top-eight times in the country, including four of the top five.

With the Tyson Invitational in the books, the Razorbacks’ championship season begins Feb. 22-24 with the SEC Indoor Championships in Fayetteville. Arkansas will host a Last Chance meet March 1 before hosting the 2013 NCAA Indoor Championships at the Randal Tyson Track Center. The Razorbacks will be hosting the indoor national meet for the 11th time in program history, all since the 2000 season.

For more information regarding Razorback track and field or University of Arkansas athletics, please visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com. Fans can also keep up with Arkansas cross country and track and field through the team’s sport-specific RazorbackTF Facebook and Twitter pages.