Women?s cross country tops SEC poll

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The 2008 Southeastern Conference women’s cross country poll was released on Wednesday and the Arkansas Razorbacks were picked to win the league title.

Arkansas received nine first-place votes and tallied 13 total points for the top spot. The Razorbacks claimed their third-consecutive title in 2007, notching their 12th SEC cross country title overall.

The Florida Gators received two first-place votes and posted 25 points for second-place. The Tennessee Lady Vols also earned a first-place vote and recorded 31 points for a third-place finish. Georgia placed fourth with 39 points and Kentucky placed fifth with 61 points.

After the first weekend of competition, Catherine White, Dacia Perkins, Denise Bargiachi, Miranda Walker and Christine Kalmer hold the top five spots in the SEC 4K rankings. The Arkansas quintet leads the rest of the field by nearly seven seconds.

Arkansas returns 10 student-athletes from the 2007 roster that won the Razorbacks’ 12th SEC title and 14th NCAA Regional title.

The 2008 SEC Cross Country Championships, hosted by Mississippi State University in Starkville, Miss., will be held November 3.

Arkansas women’s cross country will compete at the Aztec Invitational, Saturday, Sept. 13, at 12:30 p.m. CST. The 5K race will be run at San Diego’s Balboa Park. For more information, visit ArkansasRazorbacks.com.