Arkansas Poised To Dominate Region
NEW ORLEANS – Arkansas’ women’s cross country team has been selected as the No. 1 team of the South Central region in the USTFCCCA preseason rankings, announced on Monday afternoon.
The defending regional champions, Arkansas has maintained their stronghold on the team title for the last five years.
Along with the program’s cohesive triumph the Razorbacks have also produced the top individual performer at the meet for the past two years in former Hog and 2016 Olympian Dominique Scott-Efurd.
Arkansas returns four All-Region performers including Nikki Hiltz, Valerie Reina, Kelsey Schrader and Regan Ward.
The 2016 NCAA South Central Region Championship will be held on Friday, Nov. 11 in Fayetteville at Arkansas’ home course, Agri Park.
2016 Division I Preseason Regional Rankings (South Central)
1. Arkansas
2. Texas
3. Rice
4. SMU
5. Baylor
6. Texas A&M
7. Stephen F. Austin
8. Lamar
9. University of Texas at Arlington
10. North Texas
11. Houston
12. McNeese State
13. Tulane
14. Arkansas State
15. University of Texas at San Antonio
Southeastern Conference Coaches Poll
Despite losing three-time SEC cross country individual champion Scott-Efurd, the Razorbacks continue to be held in high regard by their peers.
In a preseason poll decided by the league’s head coaches, Arkansas was unanimously voted as the team predicted to place first at the 2016 SEC Cross Country Championship.
Rankings are tabulated with a vote for first place equaling one point, second place equaling two points and so on through 13th place (teams can’t vote for themselves). A team receiving all first place finish votes would score 13 points.
Arkansas has won the last three conference championships and returns one of the best underclassmen in the NCAA in sophomore Devin Clark. Clark, who raced to second team All-SEC and SEC All-Freshman team honors last season capped her first collegiate cross country season eight spots shy of All-America honors.
The Razorbacks will host the 2016 SEC Cross Country Championship at home on Friday, Oct. 28 at Agri Park.
2016 SEC Cross Country Coaches Preseason Poll (points)
1. Arkansas (13)
2. Vanderbilt (35)
3. Mississippi State (46)
4. Florida (51)
5. Ole Miss (64)
6. Missouri (66)
7. Alabama (89)
9. Auburn (101)
10. Kentucky (112)
11. Georgia (134)
12. Tennessee (143)
13. South Carolina (151)
14. LSU (169)
For more information on Arkansas track and field including in-meet updates, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.
