ArkansasTrackStats

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Commentary.......Message from the Publishers: Arkansas University Women Heat Up the Mile/Former Arkansas High Schoolers Perform

2/4/2001

The Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayettevillle continues to be THE place to be for hot indoor track races. The Women's Seeded Mile on Saturday, January 27, 2001 as part of the Razorback Invitational proved the point again. When the runners took their marks the hometown crowd was anticipating LadyBack Tracy Robertson to grab a victory with a fast mile since the field contained three quality runners from Stanford in addition to Robertson and newcomer LadyBack Adreinna Byrd. This is the type race that a mile fan goes out of their way to see.

The race started cleanly with the rabbit pacing a near perfect 2:20 at the 880 with Robertson leading the main pack. At the 1000 mark the pack closed on Robertson and it seemed obvious the last 400 would make or break the field. To the crowd's surprise, Ida Nilsson of UALR....yes, that is University of Arkansas-Little Rock...took the lead at the 1150 mark and the scramble behind Robertson began. Robertson fell in behind Nilsson waiting to pounce and at the 1350 mark she took off for the sprint to the finish. But wait....although Nilsson could not hold off the challenge, Robertson could only manage a 3-5 yard lead before Nilsson kicked hard and took the lead back at 1475 mark. In the pandemonium of the Stanford runners fighting for position, Robertson got boxed on a curve and had to struggle to get back into second for a final shot. Tonight was for the freshman Nilsson as she finished strong with Robertson and Stanford's Lauren Fleshman in hot pursuit. Both Nilsson and Robertson broke the Tyson Center record. At the end, Arkansas universities proudly held the fastest two collegiate times in the nation so far in 2001. The top 6 runners were all under 4:54 as below:

Ida Nilsson, UALR 4:38.28

Tracy Robertson, Arkansas 4:39.49

Lauren Fleshman, Stanford 4:39.69

Andreinna Byrd, Arkansas 4:45.06

Malinda Elmore, Stanford 4:52.91

Elena Villareal, Stanford 4:53.14

In addition to a great women's seeded mile, several former Arkansas high school tracksters competed in the Razorback Invitational as below:

April Johnson, Tulsa (Fayetteville,1999) Unseeded 800 2:16.33 (6th)

Jennifer Culp, Arkansas (Fayetteville, 2000) Pole Vault 3.75m (12' 3.5") (6th) (PR)

Andrew Beasley, Arkansas (Rogers) Seeded 800 1:54.00 (12th)

Carlos Arrizon, Barton County CC (Berryville, 2000) Unseeded 3000 8:40.79 (14th)

Blake Jorgenson, Arkansas (Fayetteville) Pole Vault 4.80m (15"9") (7th)

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