NCAA South Central Regional hosted at UA's Agri Park
FAYETTEVILLE – Arkansas serves as host of the NCAA South Central Region meet on Friday, November 14, at Agri Park with the women’s 6,000m race leading off at 9 a.m. There is free admission to the event.
The Razorbacks have claimed 13 consecutive South Central Region team titles after placing third twice in 2009 and 2010.
“The ladies have had a great two weeks of practice and we have lots to bounce back from after the conference meet,” said Arkansas women’s cross country coach Marc Burns. “I think they’re ready for it. It would be very easy for us right now to say it would be great to finish in the top five. We’re not trying to be top five, we’re trying to be top two.
“It takes two to get out and that’s our mission. Our ladies are ready for it and we’re excited about the challenge. We’re excited about getting on our home course and really putting together a strong effort from start to finish.”
Live results of the NCAA South Central Region will be available through flashresults.com at this link: https://shorturl.at/V4U03. There is no live stream available of the South Central Region meet.
In addition to the top two teams earning automatic qualification for the NCAA Championships, the top four individuals not on an advancing team also qualify for the national championship race.
LSU and Tulane enter the meet nationally ranked at No. 26 and No. 30 in the USTFCCCA national rankings while Texas A&M is receiving votes. In the latest South Central Region rankings the order is LSU, Tulane, Texas A&M, SMU, Texas, and Arkansas.
South Central Region teams competing in the SEC Championships were led by LSU’s fourth-place finish while Texas A&M placed sixth with Texas 13th and Arkansas 14th.
Tulane, who won the American Conference over Rice with a 36 to 72 tally, posted a 2-4 individual finish in the conference meet with Blezzin Kimutai and Dorcas Naibei.
Sydney Vaught led Arkansas in the SEC meet as she placed 11th, which made her the top American finisher in the race. She was followed by LSU’s tandem of Edna Chepkemoi (13) and Yuya Sawada (15th) as well as Elizabeth Pickett of Texas (14th) and the Texas A&M duo of Joyce Kemboi (16th) and Debora Cherono (17th).
“I think our front three will do the job,” stated Burns. “Our four and five are going to have to find a way to finish in the top 30 or 40 for us to have a chance. I think anything under 100 points will put us in the mix and that’s our target.
“If it doesn’t work out on the team side I think Sydney has a great chance to win the race. Josphine Mwaura and Olivia Pielemeier look great and there’s every chance for them to snag one of those top four spots. It’s going to be tough, but all three are capable of doing that.”
Women’s National rankings | USTFCCCA
- LSU
- Tulane
Receiving votes: Texas A&M
National rankings | FloTrack
- LSU
South Central Rankings
- LSU
- Tulane
- Texas A&M
- SMU
- Texas
- Arkansas
- Stephen F. Austin
- Rice
- Texas A&M – Corpus Christi
- Houston
