Octavious Freeman runs fastest dash

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FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Central Florida freshman Octavious Freeman recorded the NCAA's three fastest times this season in the women's 60-meter dash Friday at the Tyson Indoor Invitational.

Freeman finished with times of 7.19, 7.20 and 7.22 seconds. She finished 0.03 seconds from tying Bianca Knight's American junior record of 7.16 seconds.

"I felt like it was within reach," Freeman said. "All I have to do is get better and the records should fall. I'm still getting the hang of indoor season. Each meet I want to get faster."

Freeman's performance was one of several notable at the annual event on the University of Arkansas campus. Three NCAA bests were recorded Friday, while nine new NCAA qualifying marks were set by six individuals.

Arkansas, ranked No. 1 in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Association, had three runners finish with the NCAA's top three times in the men's 400. Akheem Gauntlett, who also has the fastest time this season in the 200, finished in 46.23. Marek Niit and Neil Braddy each finished with times of 46.28 seconds.

"There is more in the tank for that group there," Arkansas coach Chris Bucknam said. "I think we're really just starting to round into shape, so we'll hopefully improve on those marks as we go along here.

"Akheem had to sit out last year (after transferring from Maryland Eastern Shore). He's just starting to get into a groove now and I'm really glad to see him in the mix."

Running unaffiliated, former Oklahoma sprinter Frankie Wright finished first in the event with a time of 45.72 seconds.

Louisiana Tech senior Chelsea Hayes recorded the NCAA's best long jump this season with a mark of 21 feet, 8 inches.

Clemson sophomore Brianna Rollins finished just shy of her NCAA-best in the women's 60 hurdles at 7.98 seconds. Rollins, the defending NCAA champion in the event, ran the event in 7.97 last week -- tied for the nation's fastest this season.

Clemson's Spencer Adams (7.68 seconds) and Illinois' Andrew Riley (7.69) each set new NCAA qualifying times in the men's 60 hurdles. The two will compete in the finals Saturday.

Nebraska's Luke Pinkelman also recorded a NCAA qualifying mark with a mark of 64-0.5 in the men's shot put.

Texas sophomore Sarah Sutherland ran NCAA's fourth-fastest time this season in the women's 5,000 at 16:15.9, but failed to hit the NCAA automatic qualifying mark. Sutherland bested her previous personal best indoors by more than 38 seconds.

Copyright 2012 by The Associated Press

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