Feb. 18, 2006

HOUSTON, Texas - UTA senior sprinter Ellen Garrison advanced to Saturday's finals of the 60 meter and 200 meters finals to highlights the Mavericks' efforts Friday.

Saturday's competition begins with the continuation of the heptathlon at 8:30 a.m. The day's field events will start at 11 a.m. with running finals slated for 1:30 p.m.

As a team, UTA stands in seventh place with 18 points. Stephen F. Austin leads the women's race wth 49 points, six ahead of UT-San Antonio (43). Sam Houston State (30), Texas State (27), Lamar (25) and Southeastern Louisiana (22) lead the Mavericks. Northwestern State (12) and Louisiana-Monroe trail the pack with 12 and eight points, respectively.

Garrison had the top 60-meter time with a 7.56 in the preliminary heat. She also posted the fifth-fastest time in the 200 meters with a 25.19.

The women's 800 meter finals will be a battle between UTA's Ivorita Taylor and Carranda Mose and UT-San Antonio's Diane Smith and Hope Jimenez. All four advanced to the finals with times within 1.3 seconds of each other. Joining Taylor and Mose are Nicole Noel and Kristi Bird in the 10-person final.

Sophomore Jodi Hulett took fifth place in the 5,000 meters with a 17:46.62 and the distance medley squad was third with a time of 12:31.29.

Zizan Seymore took seventh in the high jump with a leap of 5-feet, 04.25 inches and junior Lidna Rosema was seventh in the weight thrower of a toss of 51-01.

Saturday's final results will be posted on utamavs.com -30-