Harter named regional coach of the year

FAYETTEVILLE – University of Arkansas Lady Razorback cross country coach Lance Harter was named the South Central Region Cross Country Coach of the Year on Wednesday following his team’s victory at the event last Saturday afternoon.

The honor is Harter’s 11th Coach of the Year award and first since 2002, coincidentally, the last time Arkansas won the South Central Regional title.

“This award is certainly a reflection of the success that the team has had,” Harter said. “I have to thank the athletes for their success. It is nice to be recognized by my peers for what these young ladies have accomplished.”

Harter’s cross country squad edged out a one-point win at the Regional Championship last Saturday afternoon when he ran three seniors, one sophomore and three freshmen against some tough competition. Out of that group six earned all-South Central Region Honors with finishes among the top 15 as Arkansas placed four runners in front of anyone else’s third. Harter plans to bring an even younger group of student-athletes to the NCAA Championships on Monday.

“Winning the regional was extremely important,” Harter said. “We have been on the bad side of two or three really close races so to get the satisfaction of a victory was nice. In that race we purposely kept one of most solid athletes resting for the regional meet and to still be able to pick up the win was very encouraging.”

The Lady Razorbacks head to the NCAA Championships on Saturday morning with race time scheduled for 1:15 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 21. For more information about Lady Razorback cross country or about Arkansas women’s athletics, please go to www.ladybacks.com.