TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Led by the 1-2 finish of sophomore Rebecca Lowe and junior Charlotte Browning, the third-ranked Florida women’s cross country team totaled 33 points to win the NCAA South Regional Championship Saturday and a trip to the national finals Nov. 23 in Terre Haute, Ind. The Gator men finished fifth in the 10K race.
The Gators, who ran away with the title in the SEC Championships Oct. 31 in Oxford, Miss., had four runners finish in the top 11 of the women’s 6K race to win the regional meet for the third time, the first victory since the second of back-to-back titles in 1998.
Lowe covered the distance on the Harry Pritchard Running Course on the Alabama campus in 20:03.29. Browning was just behind with her 20:12.49 clocking. Junior Stacey Johnson was fourth in 20:28.21 and sophomore Genevieve LaCaze was 11th in 20:44.83. Senior Julie Northrup was 17th to complete the Florida scoring.
Finishing second behind the Lady Gators was Florida State, with 54 points. Then came five SEC teams – Tennessee (102), Georgia (114), Vanderbilt (164), Auburn (197) and Alabama (208).
In the men’s 10K race, meet host Alabama had five runners in the top 12 to run away with the title with 45 points, 35 ahead of Florida State. Florida, led by the 14th-place finish of senior Justin Taylor (30:41.59), finished fifth with 143 points. Auburn (110), which was led by senior individual winner Felix Kibioywo, and Georgia (125) also finished ahead of the Gators, who hope to be awarded one of the wild-card team spots for the finals hosted by Indiana State on Nov. 23.
Junior Anthony Morales was 24th overall in 31:12.41. Junior James Uthmeier was 33rd in 31:32.17, senior Matt Hensley 35th in 31:38.55 and sophomore Michael Anderson was 42nd in 31:55.24.
The Crimson Tide were led by juniors Andrew Kirwa and Fred Samoei, who finished sixth and seventh respectively. Junior Julius Bor was ninth, sophomore Moses Kiptoo was 11th and senior Emmanuel Bor was 12th for Alabama.
NCAA SOUTH CROSS COUNTRY REGIONAL
At Harry Pritchard Running Course, Tuscaloosa, Ala.
WOMEN’S 6K RACE
Team scores: 1. Florida 33; 2. Florida State 54; 3. Tennessee 102; 4. Georgia 114; 5. Vanderbilt 164; 6. Auburn 197; 7. Alabama 208; 8. UAB 297; 9. Jacksonville 311; 10. Georgia Tech 323; 11. North Florida 335; 12. South Florida 337; 13. Mississippi State 340; 14. Belmont 359; 15. Samford 367; 16. Chattanooga 415; 17. Georgia State 439; 18. Southern Mississippi 457; 19. Lipscomb 487; 20. Miami (Fla.) 543; 21. Mississippi 577; 22. Troy 586; 23. Jacksonville State 637.
Top 15 individuals: 1. Rebecca Lowe (Florida) 20:03.29; 2. Charlotte Browning (Florida) 20:12.49; 3. Jackie Areson (Tennessee) 20:20.06; 4. Stacey Johnson (Florida) 20:28.21; 5. Zamzam Sangau (Middle Tennessee State) 20:30.22; 6. Pilar McShine (Florida State) 20:31.15; 7. Pasca Cheruiyot (Florida State) 20:31.28; 8. McKayla Plank (Georgia) 20:32.88; 9. Janel Blancett (Georgia State) 20:33.42; 10. Katie Van Horn (Tennessee) 20:34.69; 11. Genevieve LaCaze (Florida) 20:44.83; 12. Bridget Lyons (Georgia) 20:46.27; 13. Jennifer Dunn (Florida State) 20:46.29; 14. Stephanie Barnes (Auburn) 20:49.96; 15. Jessica Parry (Florida State) 20:51.62.
Florida runners: 1. Rebecca Lowe (sophomore) 20:03.29; 2. Charlotte Browning (junior) 20:12.49; 4. Stacey Johnson (junior) 20:28.21; 11. Genevieve LaCaze (sophomore) 20:44.83; 17. Julie Northrup (senior) 20:54.91; 21. Laura Garrow (junior) 21:01.21; 59. Ali Crabb (junior) 22:05.53.
MEN’S 10K RACE
Team scores: 1. Alabama 45; 2. Florida State 80; 3. Auburn 110; 4. Georgia 125; 5. Florida 143; 6. Tennessee 178; 7. South Alabama 180; 8. Kennesaw State 283; 9. Mississippi State 298; 10. Belmont 303; 11. Georgia Tech 338; 12. Chattanooga 346; 13. East Tennessee State 399; 14. Georgia State 418; 15. Troy 423; 16. Lipscomb 433; 17. Mississippi Valley State 500; 18. Mississippi 504; 19. Tie, South Florida and Jacksonville State 509; 21. North Florida 517; 22. Vanderbilt 529; 23. Tennessee Tech 591; 24. Austin Peay 690; 25. Samford 694; 26. Miami (Fla.) 716.
Top 15 finishers: 1. Felix Kibioywo (Auburn) 29:35.85; 2. Barnabas Kirui (Mississippi) 29:44.48; 3. Ben Cheruiyot (Auburn) 30:00.54; 4. Matt Leeder (Florida State) 30:08.41; 5. Zac Edwards (South Alabama) 30:09.00; 6. Andrew Kirwa (Alabama) 30:11.19; 7. Fred Samoei (Alabama) 30:14.63; 8. Daniel Roberts (Florida State) 30:17.32; 9. Julius Bor (Alabama) 30:24.56; 10. Micah Tirop (South Alabama) 30:30.14; 11. Moses Kiptoo (Alabama) 30:32.63; 12. Emmanuel Bor (Alabama) 30:37.24; 13. Festus Chemaoi (Middle Tennessee State) 30:38.50; 14. Justin Taylor (Florida) 30:41.59; 15. Bejan Abtahi (Georgia) 30:44.55.
Florida runners: 14. Justin Taylor (senior) 30:41.59; 24. Anthony Morales (junior) 31:12.41; 33. James Uthmeier (junior) 31:32.17; 35. Matt Hensley (senior) 31:38.55; 42. Michael Anderson (sophomore) 31:55.24; 51. Aaron Kindt (32:20.57); 53. Josh Izewski (sophomore) 32:21.26.