Arkansas women loaded with talent

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http://www.baxterbulletin.com/article/2 ... /901100361

Balumbu, Stripling qualify for NCAA Indoor Championships
NATE ALLEN • NATE ALLEN SPORTS SERVICE • JANUARY 10, 2009

FAYETTEVILLE — While most University of Arkansas track and field athletes used Friday's debut meet to "run off the Christmas turkey," Nkosinza Balumbu and Katie Stripling soared to new heights.

Triple jumper Balumbu for Chris Bucknam's Razorback men, and pole vaulter Stripling for Lance Harter's Razorback women (the team formerly known as Lady Razorbacks), both automatically qualified for the NCAA Indoor Championships during Friday night's Arkansas Invitational.

Jonesboro junior Stripling pole vaulted a personal indoor best 13-9 1-4 for her first-ever first meet automatic qualifier. Stripling had told Arkansas women's vault coach Bryan Compton she was ready for first-meet national qualifier.

"That was my goal coming in," she said. "I was hopeful. I have a place to jump (the Earl Bell facility) when I was home over break and came back a little bit early and started jumping here. I felt really comfortable and everything came together. Now I can just see how much higher I can go before the SEC meet."

Compton says it's always a little bit of a surprise for a vaulter to qualify the first meet after Christmas, but not really with Stripling.

"She's been jumping really well in practice," Compton said. "She's trying to make that next level. In fact, I think she should have made the next bar (14-1) and she does, too. In a couple of weeks we can do that."

Tina Sutej, a UA woman freshman European vaulter, arrived Monday from Slovenia and was second in a NCAA provisional, qualifying 13-5 1-4.

"That's good for just getting off the plane," Compton said. "She's still trying to wake up and see where she's at every day and she gets a high provisional."

Arkansas women vaulters Tara Diebold and Sarah Landau shared a 12-11 1-2 provisional mark. Diebold was third on fewer misses.