Harriers break into top 10

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas Lady Razorback cross country team received good news on Tuesday with the release of the FinishLynx/NCAA Women’s Cross Country Poll as they moved up to 10th in the nation.

Arkansas’ 10th-place ranking is its first top 10 since the Nov. 18, 2002 poll where it ranked eighth and is three places higher than it was just a week ago despite not competing last weekend. Arkansas began the season ranked 17th in the preseason poll.

“I think that this is a reflection of the respect that our team has earned,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “We have a young team and people are still trying to figure out who they are individually, but also as a team. Seven of our top 10 runners are either freshmen or sophomores, so not many people saw us coming.”

The Lady Razorbacks are undefeated through their first two meets of the season compiling an 11-0-0 record. Freshman Christine Kalmer has been Arkansas’ top runner finishing under the 18-minute mark in both 5,000-meter races she has competed in, while winning the individual title at the Missouri Southern Dual meet.

The Lady Razorback’s 10th-place ranking puts them ahead of SEC rival Tennessee (15th) and South Central Region foe Baylor (13th). Arkansas is the top-ranked team in the South Central.

Arkansas gets its latest, and most challenging, test of the year this weekend when it takes on a national level field at the Notre Dame Invitational on Friday evening. Of the 24 teams scheduled to compete, nine are ranked among the nation’s top 30 including #3 and host Notre Dame and #5 Michigan.

For more information about Lady Razorback cross country or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.