Cross country looks for repeat at regionals

WACO, Texas – The fourth-ranked University of Arkansas Lady Razorback cross country team continues it’s fantastic 2006 season with the gateway to the NCAA Championships on Saturday when it competes at the NCAA South Central Regional Championships in Waco, Texas, at 10:00 a.m.

The defending champion, Arkansas hopes to get a repeat performance at the Cottonwood Creek Cross Country Course as teams from Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana attempt to finish among the top two teams in the region and earn a spot at the NCAA Championships to be held on Nov. 20.

“For us this is going to be a race where we go out and establish ourselves, but not overdo it,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “We are going to set up among the leaders and make sure that we get one of the top two positions. If there are individuals who want to go out and try to win the individual title that is fine as long as we make it as a team.”

Arkansas enters the meet as the overwhelming favorite, boasting the only national ranking in the field. The Lady Razorbacks are also looking to preserve their undefeated record which currently stands at 77-0-0. The last time a Lady Razorback team went to the NCAA Championships undefeated was 1993 and that fall, Arkansas ended the year as the national runner-up.

Saturday’s race will test the Lady Razorbacks with several long upgrades and one major hill, but for the most part is a flat course with wide avenues to move in. That combination should allow the Lady Razorbacks to establish control of the race early.

Arkansas is a perennial power at the regional meet having won the competition 13 times since 1982. Last fall, the Lady’Backs squeaked out a one-point victory over Baylor University, 45-46 and had six runners earn all-South Central Region honors. The Arkansas victory at the regional meet was its first since 2002 as Texas and SMU snuck away with the regional titles in 2003 and 2004.

For more information about Lady Razorback cross country or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to LADYBACKS.COM.