Alabama Cross Country Women Picked to Finish Seventh in SEC
8/31/2009 12:00:00 AM
Aug. 31, 2009
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - The Southeastern Conference released its 2009 SEC Cross Country Coaches Preseason Poll and the University of Alabama was nabbed to finish seventh, while the University of Florida was selected to win the women's title. In a vote by the league head coaches, the Crimson Tide tallied a total of 67 votes.
"I think based on our group returning, that's probably a fair early season mark but we want to finish better than that," cross country coach Randy Hasenbank said. "I think our girls will be motivated to improve on that ranking when the championship rolls around."
Florida received eight first-place votes and tallied 15 total points for the top spot. The Gators have won three titles in the past, including back-to-back years in 1996 and 1997. Their first title came in 1984. The defending champion Arkansas Razorbacks received four first-place votes and posted 18 points for second-place. The Tennessee Lady Vols recorded 38 points for a predicted third-place finish, while Auburn placed fourth with 45 points and Georgia placed fifth with 56 points.
The Tide turned in their best finish since 2000 last season when they placed seventh after being picked to finish eighth at the beginning of the year.
The women's poll was awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11 basis.
The 2009 SEC Cross Country Championships, hosted by the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Miss., will be held October 31.
2009 SEC Cross Country Coaches' Poll(First-Place Votes in Parentheses)WOMEN 1. Florida (8) 15 2. Arkansas (4) 18 3. Tennessee 38 4. Auburn 45 5. Georgia 56 6. Kentucky 63 7. Alabama 67 8. Vanderbilt 75 9. Mississippi State 88 10. South Carolina 101 11. Ole Miss 112 12. LSU 117
