Harriers open season ranked 4th

FAYETTEVILLE – The University of Arkansas Lady Razorback cross country team opened the 2007 season with an easy victory at the Fayetteville Invitational and for their efforts picked up a fourth-place ranking in the first United States Track and Field Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll.

The Lady Razorbacks earned 344 points in the rankings, just 40 behind top ranked Stanford. Michigan holds the number two spot despite a lack of any first-place votes with Colorado in third and four first-place tallies.

“I think that our ranking this fall is based mostly on what we did last year,” Arkansas head coach Lance Harter said. “We had a great year in 2006 and return just about everyone from that team. We’ll get a better idea of what kind of team we’ll be this weekend at the Aztec Invitational.”

Arkansas’ fourth-place ranking is its highest to open the season since the 1999 season when it started the year ranked second. That fall, the Lady Razorbacks had a fabulous year finishing second at the NCAA Championships to win their fourth NCAA runner-up trophy in school history.

Leading the way this fall are a trio of juniors, Christine Kalmer, Denise Bargiachi and Dacia Barr. Joining them are sensational sophomores Dani Parry and Miranda Walker; freshmen Catherine White and Jillian Rosen as well as a cast of skilled upperclassmen round out Arkansas’ field.

The Lady’Backs travel to San Diego, Calif., this weekend to run at the Aztec Invitational at historic Balboa Park. For more information about Lady Razorback cross country or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.