Women's Cross Country Finishes Fifth at SEC Championships
10/31/2009 12:00:00 AM
Oct. 31, 2009
OXFORD, Miss. - After turning in the best finish since 2000 last season when they placed seventh, the Alabama women's cross country did it again Saturday with a fifth place finish at the SEC Championships this year. The meet was held at the Ole Miss Cross Country Course in Oxford, Miss.
"First of all, I'm extremely proud about the progress the program has made," cross country coach Randy Hasenbank said. "I've told the team that we are arguably the most improved team in the conference but we just want this to be a stepping stone."
Even though the squad didn't have any All-SEC performers, Alabama turned in their best team performance since 2000 when they finished fifth as well.
"I'm very happy to see that we finished fifth and didn't have a great race," Hasenbank said. "We still competed extremely well. A couple of the gals didn't necessarily have their legs to do what they wanted to do or what they normally do but we're excited to be where we are at this point."
In conditions that included mud today and waist deep puddles during practice on Friday, the Crimson Tide were led by Kelsey Johnson who finished 17th with a time of 22:10.24. Johnson was just four places from earning All-SEC for the second time in her career. Haley Moody followed in 23rd place and a time of 22:22.44.
"The team did awesome today," Johnson said. "We ran really close together as a team. We knew that the teams 3-7 were very close and we wanted to be top five and we did that so we're very happy."
Sara Vaughn (22:36.86) and Leigh Gilmore (22:37.10) crossed the finish line in 32nd and 33rd respectively. Sarah Gilmore rounded out the top five for the Tide finishing 36th and a time of 22:43.54.
The Crimson Tide had a goal of placing five ladies in the top 35 overall. They finished with their fifth runner in 36th. By doing so, Alabama tallied its lowest point total since 1997.
Elsbeth Denton (23:19.87), Katlyn Will (23:30.94), Natasha Klimas (23:39.39) and Megan Williams (24:36.12) rounded out the Alabama finishers in 54th, 61st, 64th and 81st place.
"I think Randy Hasenbank and his philosophy and where he's trying to direct the cross country program plays a huge part in how we continue to improve each year," head track and field coach Sandy Fowler said. "Secondly, the type of athletes we're recruiting, they're very dedicated in advancing Alabama to higher competitive levels."
No. 5 Florida claimed the championship with 24 points besting Tennessee who finished with 80 points. No. 29 and three-time defending SEC Champion Arkansas finished third with 87 points. Georgia (118) and Alabama (141) rounded out the top five in team scoring.
Rebecca Lowe of Florida won the individual title with a time of 20:57.45.
"They competed really well from start to finish," Fowler said. "I think they're ready to move on to NCAA region now and that's another opportunity to do even better. I think we're close enough to the top teams in our region that we could have a pleasant surprise."
Alabama will return to competition on Nov. 14 when they host the NCAA South Region Championships at the Harry Pritchett Running Park.
