FAYETTEVILLE -- Not since they were winning SEC track triple crowns when still known as Lady Razorbacks can Coach Lance Harter recall a more satisfying season than the one that ended Saturday in Eugen, Ore.
Harter's Razorbacks came within 11 indoor points of winning the SEC track triple crown in 2013-2014 -- winning in cross country and Outdoor track while finishing third, 10 behind champion Florida, in indoor track.
The SEC Outdoor title was Arkansas' first since 2004.
Nationally, Harter's Razorbacks tied Oregon for 14th in NCAA Cross Country, placed sixth at the Indoor meet and placed ninth in the Outdoor meet conducted last week at the University of Oregon.
"Yeah to have balance across the board and be representative across the board this is right up there," Harter said.
Harter's Razorbacks promise to be even tougher next year.
Three seniors -- Grace Heymsfield (steeplechase), Stephanie Brown (1,500 meters) and Danielle Nowell (pole vault) -- accounted for 4.5 of Arkansas' 21.5 points in Eugene. All-SEC high jumper Kirsten Hesseltine of Springdale Har-Ber was the only other Razorbacks senior advancing to Eugene from the NCAA West Preliminary that Arkansas hosted at John McDonnell Field.
"Another year of experience and another year of putting athletes together," Harter said. "We are really excited."
Returning for 2015 as NCAA Outdoor All-Americans are pole vaulters Sandi Morris (fourth) and Cabot's Ariel Voskamp (sixth) while vaulter Megan Zimlich returns as a 2014 NCAA Outdoor qualifier. The 1,600-meter relay team of underclassmen Daina Harper, Regine Williams, Taylor Ellis-Watson and Chrishuna Williams returns intact after finishing an All-American sixth in Eugene and will be rejoined by Sparkle McKnight, redshirted in 2014 after being both a part of Arkansas' 2013 NCAA Outdoor champion 1,600 relay and winning the 2013 SEC Outdoor 400-meter hurdles.
Dominique Scott returns after an All-American sixth-place finish in the 5,000 meters while teammate and fellow SEC Outdoor distance champ Diane Robison returns as a 2014 NCAA Outdoor 5,000 qualifier.
Tamara Myers returns with NCAA Outdoor experience in the long and triple jumps.
Most surprising, sophomore Jessica Kamilos, whose advancement from the West Preliminary meet to the NCAA Outdoor Harter had deemed a nice bonus for experience leading into 2015, will enter 2015 as an All-American and qualifier for this month's USA National Championships in Sacramento, Calif.
Kamilos ran a personal best 10:01.01 advancing in Wednesday's 3,000-meter steeplechase then Friday broke Heymsfield's school record, as of course did Heymsfield, by clocking 9:49.25 for two All-American seventh-place points right behind Heymsfield's 9:49.01 for sixth place while Colorado senior and U.S. Olympian Shalaya Kipp was fifth in 9:48.90.
"She was definitely the surprise of the meet," Harter said of Kamilos.
Either at Eugene or earlier this season, Heymsfield, Kamilos, Morris and Brown all qualified for the USA Championships.
Sports on 06/16/2014