OXFORD, Miss. – Led by a 1-2 finish by Rebecca Lowe and Charlotte Browning, the Florida women’s cross country team ran away with the Southeastern Conference women’s championship Saturday on the 6K course at the University of Mississippi Golf Course.
The Gators totaled 24 points, placing five runners among the Top 10 finishers in the race, to outdistance the rest of the field. Tennessee was second with 80, Arkansas third with 87, Georgia fourth with 118 and Alabama fifth with 141.
In the men’s 8K race, senior Justin Taylor of St. Augustine earned second-team All-SEC honors with his 10th-place finish in 25:05.72 that keyed Florida’s fourth-place team finish. Alabama was first with 56 points, followed by Arkansas in second with 61 and Auburn in third with 86. Florida totaled 120.
Lowe, a redshirt sophomore from Australia, to become Florida’s first individual champion since Becki Wells won back-to-back titles in 1995 and ’96. Not only did Lowe become the fourth Gator runner to win the individual race, it was her first victory in the Orange and Blue uniform. The team title, the Florida women’s fourth overall, was the Gators’ first since 1997.
“It was really great to see Rebecca succeed,” Florida cross country coach Todd Morgan said. “She has faced a lot of adversity the last two years, suffering an injury and sitting out last year. She never lost her focus or determination to win. She is a big-time talent and it showed.
“Everyone at the meet gave it their best shot and our women ran tremendously,” Morgan continued. “They had a great performance and a highlight was Rebecca and Charlotte coming in first and second. They worked well together throughout the whole meet and really pushed each other.”
Lowe was timed in 20:57.35, the ninth-best SEC Championship time in Florida history. Browning, a junior from England, was a little more than five seconds behind, finishing in 21:02.48.
“This title means so much to us,” Lowe said. “It’s been a long time coming for the Gators and we are proud to bring a championship back to Gainesville. It also was a step forward as we prepare for the regionals and nationals.”
The first seven runners across the finish line received All-SEC first-team honors, and Lowe and Browning were joined on the unit by senior Stacey Johnson of England, who was fifth in a time of 21:18.79, and sophomore Genevieve LaCaze was seventh in 21:33.25. Senior Julie Northrup of Vero Beach closed out the team scoring for Florida with her ninth-place finish of 21:36.55 that earned her All-SEC second-team honors.
“Stacey and Genevieve also worked well together throughout the race,” Morgan said. “Stacey had a bit of a setback at the beginning, but she got back in it and turned in a solid run. It was great for Julie to also earn All-SEC for the first time in such great fashion. She has been working hard and it started to show in the last few meets. She had a great run.”
Five other Florida runners finished between 21st and 60th and three of them had personal-best times. Junior Laura Garrow of Port Orange was 21st in 22:19.76, her best. Ali Crabb, a junior from St. Petersburg, was 24th in 22:25.12. Freshman Sydney Devore of Lakeland was 37th in 22:45.81 in her first-ever 6K race. Junior Kaitlin Shiver of Satellite Beach was 39th in 22:53.26 and freshman Mandy Perkins of Ormond Beach finished her first 6K race in 23:29.73.
In the men’s race, junior Anthony Morales of Palm Coast just missed earning All-SEC honors by finishing 15th in 25:17.03. Fellow junior James Uthmeier of Destin finished 24th in 25:49.85, senior Aaron Kindt of Orlando was 35th in 26:07.84 and senior Matt Hensley of Port St. Lucie was 36th in 26:15.72 to complete Florida’s scoring. Finishing 40th was sophomore Michael Anderson of Williston (26:23.15) and freshman Derek Wehunt of Odessa was 58th in 27:20.40.
“I am very proud of the men; they stayed focused and gave it everything they had,” Morgan said. “They have faced a lot of obstacles this season and they never used them as excuses to not accomplish their goals.”
Both teams are off until the NCAA South Region Championships hosted by the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa on Saturday, Nov. 14. The top two teams earn an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships hosted by Indiana State University on Monday, Nov. 23 at Terre Haute, Ind.
SEC CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Saturday, Oct. 31 at University Golf Course, Oxford, Miss.
WOMEN’S 6K RUN
Team scores: 1. Florida 24; 2. Tennessee 80; 3. Arkansas 87; 4. Georgia 118; 5. Alabama 141; 6. Vanderbilt 142; 7. Auburn 151; 8. Kentucky 175; 9. South Carolina 246; 10. Mississippi State 276; 11. Louisiana State 335; 12. Mississippi 337.
Individual Top 10: 1. Rebecca Lowe (Florida) 20:57.35; 2. Charlotte Browning (Florida) 21:02.48; 3. Jackie Areson (Tennessee) 21:12.13; 4. Kristie Krueger (Georgia) 21:17.80; 5. Stacey Johnson (Florida) 21:18.79; 6. Hollie Knight (Auburn) 21:26.58; 7. Genevieve LaCaze (Florida) 21:33.25; 8. Stephanie Barnes (Auburn) 21:34.30; 9. Julie Northrup (Florida) 21:36.55; 10. Miranda Walker (Arkansas) 21:41.07.
Florida runners: 1. Rebecca Lowe, sophomore, 20:57.35 (first-team All-SEC); 2. Charlotte Browning, junior, 21:02.48 (first-team All-SEC); 5. Stacey Johnson, junior, 21:18.79 (first-team All-SEC); 7. Genevieve LaCaze, sophomore, 21:33.25 (first-team All-SEC); 9. Julie Northrup, senior, 21:36.55 (second-team All-SEC); 21. Laura Garrow, junior, 22:19.76 (personal best); 24. Ali Crabb, junior, 22:25.12; 37. Sydney Devore, freshman, 22:45.81 (personal best); 39. Kaitlin Shiver, junior, 22:53.26; 60. Amanda Perkins, freshman, 23:29.73 (personal best).
MEN’S 8K RUN
Team scores: 1. Alabama 56; 2. Arkansas 61; 3. Auburn 86; 4. Florida 120; 5. Georgia 133; 6. Tennessee 142; 7. Kentucky 152; 8. Mississippi State 220; 9. Mississippi 249; 10. Vanderbilt 282; 11. Louisiana State 321.
Individual Top 10: 1. Barnabas Kirui (Mississippi) 24:24.75; 2. Dorian Ulrey (Arkansas) 24:33.30; 3. Felix Kibioywo (Auburn) 24:37.08; 4. Jean-Pierre Weerts (Auburn) 24:41.00; 5. Ben Cheruiyot (Auburn) 24:52.54; 6. Moses Kipton (Alabama) 24:57.75; 7. Tyson David (Alabama) 24:58.45; 8. Lane Boyer (Arkansas) 24:59.83; 9. Solomon Haile (Arkansas) 25:01.12; 10. Justin Taylor (Florida) 25:05.72.
Florida runners: 10. Justin Taylor, senior, 25:05.72 (second-team All-SEC); 15. Anthony Morales, junior, 25:17.03; 24. James Uthmeier, junior, 25:49.85; 35. Aaron Kindt, senior, 26:07.84; 36. Matt Hensley, senior, 26:15.72; 40. Michael Anderson, sophomore, 26:23.15; 58. Derek Wehunt, freshman, 27:20.40.