Saturday, July 26, 2008
Women's South Region Cross country blog 1
Same as the men with this first blog. A quick recap of how things finished last year and what we are looking forward to in 2008. There are no predictions yet as I am you can help me fill in any missing info on transfers and incoming freshmen that I can't find on the internet or through my vast network of reliable and unreliable sources.
Last year was good year for the women's team in the region and this year looks to be very similar.
Last years top ten teams were as follows 1. Florida State (40) 2. Georgia (75)3. Florida (94) 4. Tennessee (152) 5. UAB (184) 6. Georgia State (210) 7 Georgia Tech (237) 8. Samford (249) 9. Chatanooga (258) 10. Belmont (272) and
Top 10 indivuduals were
1. Kuijken (FSU) 2. Parker(FSU) 3. Blankenship (Samford) 4. England (FSU) 5 Weaver (Belmont) 6. Mademach (Georgia) 7. Picchetti (Georgia) 8. Hannah (Georgia State) 9. Ambrus (UAB) 10. Sundell (Florida)
Out of the top 25 Individuals 13 have graduated including the majority of the top 10 (2, 3, 5, 6, 7. 8. 9. 10)
Florida State returns 4 of there top 7 including defending champ Kuijken
Georgia graduates their top 3 but there next 4 are back with their top returner in last year at 21st
Florida has 5 of their top 7 back but lost their top runner who finished 10th
Tennessee ran 5 girls at the regional meet and returns all 5
UAB graduates their top 3, then returns their 4 through 6 with a top returner in 45th
Georgia State has 4 of their top 6 back but lost there number 1
Georgia Tech graduates 4 of their top 5 including their top 3
Samford takes a big hit with the graduation of their number one but then returns their next 5
Chatanooga returns their 2 through 6.
New for 2008 (fact and fiction?)
Florida State did very well for themselves landing Leslie Van Meirt as a transfer from NAU she was 9th or 10th at the NCAA 5000 outdoors. They then added at least three very talented freshmen in Kacy Gibson (PA), Jennifer Dunn (AL) and Keisha Danso Depah (Canada) I would not be suprised if they have another transfer or two out their as well
Georgia added Makayla(sp) Plank as a transfer from Iona. She ran a couple races indoors but then I heard she was hurt and decided to prepare for this fall. She is a big pick up. Kristy Krueger a freshmen from Texas will also be a nice addition.
Florida adds another Austrailian (their freshmen this past year was pretty solid) so they are hoping the new Aussie can fit in just as well and also add a very good transfer from UNLV and England Charlette Browning. Coach Morgan has a nice team this fall
Tennessee added a few 800 meter girls but I'm not sure if they will run XC or not. I have heard an unconfirmed report that Aurora Scott maybe in Knoxville as well
UAB has a couple of internationals listed in their signing class. I tried to look up results on them but to no avail. They also got a girl from Illinois and a few girls from Alabama as well.
So from what I have seen is the top teams here got stronger and the others add some girls who may help them in a few years but no big hitters right now.
A sleeper out their is Alabama. Not a top 10 team this past fall but with the addition of Betty Rotich this past January and Kelsey Johnson of Texas this fall they look to be good.
Please email me at southregionblogger@gmail.com to pass on any info on transfers and such.
Next week comes the pre season predictions
later
# posted by southregionblogger : 1:28 PM
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