HOOVER, Ala. — The Florida women’s cross country team finished second overall thanks to three Top 10 finishers at the 2010 NCAA Cross Country South Regional Championships Saturday and qualified for the NCAA Cross Country Championship Finals Monday, Nov. 22 in Terre Haute, Ind.
Junior Genevieve LaCaze of Australia turned in Florida’s top finish of the afternoon, crossing the women’s 6K finish line in 20:05.10, a career best. LaCaze was sixth overall, but for scoring purposes was given 5 points toward Florida’s team total of 67. Right behind in seventh place was senior Charlotte Browning of England, who was timed in 20:11.17. Florida State won the women’s team title with 24 points, placing five runners in the Top 10 and all seven runners no worse than 17th.
The men’s 10K race produced only an individual qualifier for the Gators – junior Dumisane Hlaselo of South Africa, a transfer, finished fourth individually in a time of 30:11.85, the ninth-fastest time ever in Florida annals. With Hlaselo leading the way, the Gator men finished with 76 points but Alabama (30) and Florida State (55) were ahead of them and qualified as teams.
“Our goal is always to come into the regional and claim one of the automatic spots,” Florida cross country coach Todd Morgan said. “We did that with the women – we continued to build momentum off of SECs and we feel really good about this group heading into nationals. Today was a big step forward for Genevieve (LaCaze). She’s been really focused on returning to top form and today was a big step towards that. She’s a big talent for us and it was exciting to see her run so well.”
It’s the fifth straight year that the Gator women have qualified for the NCAA Championships as a team and the 11th time overall.
“I’m also really happy with the way the men ran,” Morgan continued. “We scored 76 points at a regional meet and that’s something to be proud of. We had five guys finish All-South Region. They gave it a good run, a really good shot. We’re disappointed we didn’t claim an automatic spot, but we’re really proud of their effort and how far they’ve come in the past year.”
Florida’s men recorded their best team regional finish Saturday since also placing third in 2007, additionally marking the 14th consecutive season in the top five at the men’s regional.
A total of four Florida women – LaCaze, Browning, junior Rebecca Lowe of Australia (12th, 20:26.71) and freshman Cory McGee (16th, 20:35.65) of Pass Christian, Miss. – were named to the All-South Region team as Top 25 finishers Saturday. Florida’s fifth runner was freshman Steph Strasser (35th, 21:03.55). Sophomore Amanda Perkins of Ormond Beach was 52nd in 21:40.84 and sophomore Callie Cooper of St. Augustine finished 99th in 22:35.33.
“Charlotte (Browning) and Rebecca (Lowe) both had solid runs for us today and Cory (McGee) is heading in the right direction,” Morgan continued. “It was also another great day for Steph (Strasser).”
LaCaze, Browning, McGee, Perkins and Strasser all recorded their personal-best times in the 6K race.
On the men’s side, five Gators were named to the All-South Region team: Hlaselo, senior James Uthmeier of Destin (12th, 30:33.76), senior Anthony Morales of Palm Coast (19th, 30:43.02), freshman Matt Mizereck of Tallahassee (21st, 30:51.41) and sophomore Derek Wehunt of Odessa, Fla. (24th, 30:55.87). Freshman Mark Parrish of Tampa (27th, 31:13.38) and junior Josh Izewski of Doylestown, Pa. (40th, 31:41.98) rounded out the Florida runners.
“Dumi had a fantastic run and got things started really well for the men,” Morgan said. “I couldn’t be happier for James (Uthmeier), who has been a terrific leader for us. He had a fantastic run. James and Anthony (Morales) have been two great senior leaders. Derek (Wehunt) had his second high-level performance in a row after the SECs, and for Matt (Mizereck) to finish All-Region as a freshman after running his first-ever 10K is a tremendous accomplishment.”
Izewski, Morales and Uthmeier registered personal bests in the men’s 10K.
NCAA DIVISION I CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS / SOUTH REGIONAL
Hosted by Samford University / Veterans Park Cross Country Course / Hoover, Ala. / Saturday, Nov. 13, 2010
WOMEN’S 6K
TEAM
1. Florida State 24; 2. Florida 67; 3. Vanderbilt 102; 4. Georgia 137; 5. Mississippi State 196; 6. UAB 206; 7. Alabama 239; 8. Mississippi 270; 9. Lipscomb 283; 10. Samford 294; 11. North Florida 302; 12. Chattanooga 330; 13. Florida Atlantic 337; 14. South Florida 352; 15. Georgia Tech 353; 16. Belmont 423; 17. Miami (Fla.) 476; 18. Tennessee 489; 19. Georgia State 503; 20. Jacksonville State 534; 21. Mercer 580; 22. Memphis 600; 23. South Alabama 674; 24. UCF 729; 25. Tennessee Tech 735.
NCAA qualifying teams
1. Florida State (24): 2. Pasca Cheruiyot, senior, 19:55.21; 3. Pilar McShine, senior, 19:56.39; 4. Jessica Parry, sophomore, 19:56.68; 7 (9). Jennifer Dunn, junior, 20:18.51; 8 (10). Hannah Brooks, senior, 20:24.47; 13 (15). Amanda Winslow, sophomore) 20:33.30; 17 (19). Astrid Leutert, senior, 20:41.24.
2. Florida (67): 5 (6). Genevieve LaCaze, junior, 20:06.10; 6 (7). Charlotte Browning, senior, 20:11.17; 10 (12). Rebec>>ca Lowe, junior, 20:26.71; 14 (16). Cory McGee, freshman, 20:35.65; 32 (35). Stephanie Strasser, freshman, 21:03.55; 48 (52). Amanda Perkins, sophomore, 21:40.84; 91 (99). Callie Cooper, sophomore, 22:35.33.
INDIVIDUALS
Top 25 (All-South Region): 1. Kristie Krueger (Georgia, jr.) 19:52.93; 2. Pasca Cheruiyot (Florida State, sr) 19:55.21; 3. Pilar McShine (Florida State, sr.) 19:56.39; 4. Jessica Parry (Florida State, so.) 19:56.68; 5. Hollie Knight (Auburn, sr.) 19:57.68; 6. Genevieve LaCaze (Florida, jr.) 20:06.10; 7. Charlotte Browning (Florida, sr.) 20:11.17; 8. Mackenzie Howe (Kennesaw State, sr.) 20:16.13; 9. Jennifer Dunn (Florida State, jr.) 20:18.51; 10. Hannah Brooks (Florida State, sr.) 20:24.47;
11. Jordan White (Vanderbilt, so.) 20:25.15; 12. Rebecca Lowe (Florida, jr.) 20:26.71; 13. Mary Kate DuBard (Georgia Tech, jr.) 20:32.24; 14. Renee Masterson (Mississippi State, so.) 20:33.14; 15. Amanda Winslow (Florida State, so.) 20:33.30; 16. Cory McGee (Florida, fr.) 20:35.65; 17. Haley Greenwell (Mississippi State, so.) 20:36.09; 18. Friederike Feil (Florida Atlantic, sr.) 20:38.44; 19. Astrid Leutert (Florida State, sr.) 20:41.24; 20. Rhiannon Johns (UAB, jr.) 20:42.22;
21. Lauren D’Alessio (Samford, so.) 20:44.77; 22. Ashley Shiver (Georgia, so.) 20:46.55; 23. Louise Hannallah (Vanderbilt, jr.) 20:47.59; 24. Shelby Kittrell (North Florida, so.) 20:52.15; 25. Alexa Rogers (Vanderbilt, jr.) 20:52.93.
NCAA qualifying individuals
1. Kristie Krueger (Georgia, jr.) 19:52.93; 5. Hollie Knight (Auburn, sr.) 19:57.68; 8. Mackenzie Howe (Kennesaw State, sr.) 20:16.13; 11. Jordan White (Vanderbilt) 20:25.
MEN’S 10K
TEAM
1. Alabama 30; 2. Florida State 55; 3. Florida 76; 4. Tennessee 150; 5. Georgia 157; 6. Chattanooga 193; 7. Mississippi 219; 8. Belmont 236; 9. Kennesaw State 244; 10. Mississippi State 277; 11. North Florida 287; 12. South Florida 341; 13. Lipscomb 342; 14. Vanderbilt 364; 15. Mississippi Valley 373; 16. Mercer 375; 17. Miami (Fla.) 413; 18. Tennessee Tech 475.
NCAA qualifying teams
1. Alabama (40): 2. Carrison Kemei, sophomore, 30:05.80; 3. Julius Bor, senior, 30:06.96; 5. Joel Rop, junior, 30:13.23; 8 (9). Moses Kiptoo, junior, 30:23.70; 12 (13). Andrew Kirwa, senior, 30:37.96; 65 (82). Nathan Corder, junior, 32:55.46; 105 (137). Evan Kendrick, freshman, 35:23.78.
2. Florida State (55): 1. Ciaran O’Lionaird, senior, 30:03.34; 9 (10). Michael Fout, junior, 30:36.68; 14 (15). Matthew Leeder, senior, 30:41.49; 15 (16). Alexander Smyth, senior, 30:41.66; 16 (17). Wesley Rickman, sophomore, 30:41.80; 24 (25). Seth Proctor, junior, 30:57.42.
Did not qualify
3. Florida (76): 4. Dumisani Hlaselo, junior, 30:11.85; 11 (12). James Uthmeier, senior, 30:33.76; 18 (19). Anthony Morales, senior, 30:42.02; 20 (21). Matt Mizereck, freshman, 30:51.41; 23 (24). Derek Wehunt, sophomore, 30:55.87; 25 (27). Mark Parrish, freshman, 31:13.38; 35 (40). Josh Izewski, junior, 31:41.98.
INDIVIDUALS
Top 20 (All-South Region): 1. Ciaran O’Lionaird (Florida State, sr.) 30:03.34; 2. Carrison Kemei (Alabama, so.) 30:05.80; 3. Julius Bor (Alabama, sr.) 30:06.96; 4. Dumisani Hlaselo (Florida, jr.) 30:11.85; 5. Joel Rop (Alabama, jr.) 30:13.23; 6. Barnabas Kirui (Mississippi, sr.) 30:15.66; 7. Ben Cheruiyot (Auburn, jr.) 30:19.33; 8. Emmanuel Kirwa (Chattanooga, sr.) 30:22.31; 9. Moses Kiptoo (Alabama, jr.) 30:23.70; 10. Michael Fout (Florida State, jr.) 30:26.68;
11. Michael Spooner (Tennessee, sr.) 30:27.24; 12. James Uthmeier (Florida, sr.) 30:33.76; 13. Andrew Kirwa (Alabama, sr.) 30:37.96; 14. Nabil Hamid (Kennesaw State, so.) 30:40.04; 15. Matthew Leeder (Florida State, sr.) 30:41.49; 16. Alexander Smyth (Florida State, sr.) 30:41.66; 17. Wesley Rickman (Florida State, so.) 30:41.80; 18. Martin Kirui (Mississippi, jr.) 30:42.23; 19. Anthony Morals (Florida, sr.) 30:43.02; 20. Chris Berry (Chattanooga, jr.) 30:44.56;
21. Matt Mizereck (Florida, fr.) 30:51.41; 22. Adam Lenz (Mississippi State, sr.) 30:53.95; 23. Chris Bodary (Tennessee, jr.) 30:55.41; 24. Derek Wehunt (Florida, so.) 30:55.87; 25. Seth Proctor (Florida State, jr.) 30:57.42.
NCAA qualifying individuals
4. Dumisani Hlaselo (Florida, jr.) 30:11.85; 6. Barnabas Kirui (Mississippi, sr.) 30:15.66; 7. Ben Cheruiyot (Auburn, jr.) 30:19.33; 8. Emmanuel Kirwa (Chattanooga, sr.) 30:22.31; 11. Michael Spooner (Tennessee, sr.) 30:27.24.
NCAA DIVISION I MEN’S AND WOMEN’S CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
Host: Indiana State University / Wabash Valley Family Sports Center / Terre Haute, Ind. / Monday, Nov. 22, 2010 / Participants
WOMEN’S 6K
Race begins at 12:08 p.m. ET
Teams: Arizona (at-large); Boston College (at-large); Colorado (at-large); Duke (at-large); Florida (South); Florida State (South); Georgetown (Mid-Atlantic); Iowa State (Midwest); Kansas State (at-large); Michigan (Great Lakes); Michigan State (Great Lakes); Minnesota (at-large); New Mexico (Mountain); North Carolina (Southeast); North Carolina State (at-large); Oklahoma State (Midwest); Oregon (West); Penn State (at-large); Princeton (at-large); Providence (at-large); Rice (South Central); Stanford (at-large); Stony Brook (Northeast); Syracuse (Northeast); Texas (South Central); Texas Tech (Mountain); Toledo (at-large); Tulsa (at-large); Villanova (Mid-Atlantic); Virginia (Southeast); Washington (West).
Individuals (at-large): Robyn Bennett (Baylor); Ellen Birmingham (Ohio State); Kate Bowen (Brigham Young); Sarah-Anne Brault (West Virginia); Caitlin Comfort (Wisconsin); Corey Conner (Maine); Laura Crofford (Nebraska); Elise DeRoo (Colgate); Tara Erdmann (Loyola Marymount); Betsy Flood (Iowa); Kathya Garcia (Texas-El Paso); Kaitlyn Gillespie (West Virginia); Megan Hogan (George Washington); Mackenzie Howe (Kennesaw State); Audrey Huth (Northwestern); Marion Kandie (Western Kentucky); Risper Kimaiyo (Texas-El Paso); Hollie Knight (Auburn); Kristie Krueger (Georgia); Deborah Maier (California); Caroline McDonough (Columbia); Devin McMahon (Cornell); Amanda Mergaert (Utah); Amanda Moreno (UC Santa Barbara); Tonya Nero (Wichita State); Anna Nosenko (Wake Forest); Rachel Patterson (Miami, Ohio); Octavia Rinehardt (American); Natosha Rogers (Texas A&M); Kim Ruck (Clemson); Emily Sisson (Wisconsin); Breanne Strenkowski (UC Santa Barbara); Tara Upshaw (Texas A&M); Amy Van Alstine (Richmond); Meredith Wagner (Ohio State); Miranda Walker (Arkansas); Cate Westenhover (Baylor); Jordan White (Vanderbilt).
MEN’S 10K
Race begins at 12:48 p.m. ET
Teams: Alabama (South); Arkansas (South Central); Brigham Young (at-large); California (at-large); Colorado (Mountain); Duke (Southeast); Florida State (South); Georgetown (at-large); Indiana (Great Lakes); Iona (Northeast); Louisville (at-large); Minnesota (at-large); New Mexico (Mountain); North Carolina State (at-large); Northern Arizona (at-large); Notre Dame (at-large); Oklahoma (Midwest); Oklahoma State (Midwest); Oregon (West); Penn State (at-large); Portland (at-large); Princeton (Mid-Atlantic); Providence (at-large); Richmond (at-large); Stanford (West); Syracuse (Northeast); Texas (South Central); Villanova (Mid-Atlantic); Virginia (at-large); William & Mary (Southeast); Wisconsin (Great Lakes).
Individuals (at-large): David Adams (Nebraska); Hillary Bor (Iowa State); Soufiane Bouchikhi (Eastern Kentucky); Patrick Casey (Montana State); Samuel Chelanga (Liberty); Danielle Chenoweth (Harvard); Ben Cheruiyot (Auburn); Jeremy Drenckhahn (Air Force); Ben Engelhardt (Arizona State); Eric Finan (Cincinnati); Craig Foryes (Michigan); Patrick Grosskopf (Michigan State); Chad Hall (UC Riverside); Andrew Hanko (Navy); Dumisani Hiaselo (Florida); Matt Johnsen (Lamar); Greg Kelsey (Maryland); Evans Kigen (Liberty); Festus Kigen (Texas Christian); Patrick Kimeli (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi); Shadrack Kipchirchir (Western Kentucky); Barnabas Kirui (Mississippi); Emmanuel Kirwa (Chattanooga); Evans Kosgei (Lehigh); Chris Lemon (Dayton); Josh McCave (Utah Valley); Kevin McDonnell (Saint Joseph’s); Daniel Mutai (Louisiana-Monroe); Jeff Perrella (Yale); Jonathan Peterson (UC Davis); Tom Poland (Columbia); David Rooney (McNeese State); Stephen Sambu (Arizona); Michael Spooner (Tennessee); Jeff Thode (Iowa); Justin Tyner (Air Force); Erik Van Ingen (Binghamton); Don Wasinger (Kansas).