Back Where It All Started

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – Head Coach Lance Harter and the Arkansas women’s cross country team will make a return trip to Athens, Georgia, for the first time since 1991; a trip that set the tone for the Razorbacks’ championship legacy in the Southeastern Conference.

With the rest of the fall sports competing in the Southwest Conference, Arkansas’ cross country teams were the first to compete in SEC competition in the fall of 1991. Harter and the Razorbacks weren’t to be denied a championship that day on the Georgia Golf Course.

“That was the first SEC trophy by the University,” Harter continued. “I remember Frank Broyles racing the girls to be able to get up and hold it.”

With a No. 3 national ranking, the Razorbacks dominated its first race in a new conference, having the top-overall finisher and placing four more in the top-10 giving Arkansas its first SEC championship.

“It’s a fond memory,” Harter said. “It’s cycled back and we get to go again.”

1991 SEC Championship Team Results 
1. No. 3 Arkansas- 30 (1-5-7-8-9)
2. Georgia – 80 (3-10-12-17-38)
3. Mississippi State – 110 (16-19-20-27-28)
4. Alabama – 111 (4-11-14-33-49)
5. Auburn – 121 (6-18-22-34-41)

Two-time SEC champion Deena Drossin led the team and went on to be one of the most decorated athletes in the conference history. She was named SEC Athlete of the Year in 1992 and 1993 while being a three time All-American and four-time All-SEC selection.

Arkansas went on to finish as the national runner up in 1991, 1992 and 1993 while winning nine conference titles in 11 years before 2003. Since 1991, the Razorbacks have won 17 of 25 league titles. The 13 other conference schools have combined for 17 conference championships. Coach Harter has received 17 SEC Coach of the Year honors while coaching 16 SEC Athletes of the Year, eight SEC Freshmen of the Year and having over 110 named to All-SEC selections under his guidance.

Coach Harter and the Razorbacks will go for its 18th conference championship Friday morning, at the same golf course it won its first. The event is scheduled to begin at 9 a.m. with the women’s races beginning at 10 a.m. A one-hour SEC Cross Country Championships highlight show will air Sunday, Nov. 5, at 11 a.m. on the SEC Network. Live scoring will be available at SECSports.com and Primetime Scoring.

For more information on the women’s cross country team, follow @RazorbackTF on Twitter.