South Region Cross Country Blog

Did the men's prediction the other day so here is my attempt at the women. From all the emails I have not received I assume there are about 4 people reading what I have to say. No one cares about the south region. I have heard for years the South Region is weak but I will argue that until the end!
With that said here it goes with the women's predictions and it looks good for the Sunshine State

1. FSU- Considering they were 3rd at NCAA's last year and return 4 of their top 5 from that team this was an easy choice. Even easier than Alabama on the men's side. For as much criticism that Karen Harvey takes, her teams sure are responding well. Hanah England is a much better runner that at this time last year and if she can step up and replace Barbra Parker FSU is sitting nice. How nice, well considering they have Leslie Van Miert (NCAA 5000m finalist outdoors) transferring in from NAU this team is better than last years.

2. Florida- Todd Morgan has one good team and they will be making the trip to the NCAA's in Terra haute, IN. Leading off this team will be Rebecca Lowe who last year a freshmen finished off the season with All American Honors at 5000 meters and ran a massive pr of 15:53 to achieve this. the team returns everyone but Lindsay Sundell but replaces her with an Aussie who has run 9:30 for 3km and a transfer from UNLV. This team is solid and should be sitting pretty in 2nd

3. UGA- In a tight battle with Tennessee for this position. With Natalie P returning to lead this squad, Jeff Pigg has a team that could be at NCAA's. Now that prediction has many ifs, if Makayla Plank is healthy, if Jill Skinner is running, if freshmen Kristy Kreuger is healthy after fighting mono so like I said if if if. So I hope this all happens but IF not UGA could fall way down this list. I'm an optimist and I like Coach Pigg so UGA girls are all healthy and fit and they will run well

4. Tennessee- Sarah Bowman will lead them up front and should make nationals, if JJ hasn't raced her into the ground and she is exhausted come regional. I think that is what happened last year. Heidi Magill didn't come back but she is the only non returner. Jackie Areson, Katie Van Horn, Leah Soro and Brittany Sheffy add a wonderful supporting cast. They don't have a lot of depth so one injury and this team could sink.

5. Auburn- They will have a very big jump this year but like Tennessee they are very thin in depth. Led off by All American at 5000m outdoors, Sophomore Hollie Knight who didn't run regionals last year and caused Auburn to tank it down down down the results (are you listening tennessee) They have a solid second in Laura Pritchard who was an NCAA provisional qualifer at 10,000m outdoors. 3,4 and 5 will pack nicely and bump them into the top 6 teams.

6. Alabama- This is like a party for the SEC, only as we saw earlier FSU crashed it and then quickly staked its spot in front of the punch bowl. So back to Alabama ho is another team that is quickly improving under new coach Randy Hasenback. Betty Rotich last years NJCAA cross country runner up will lead this team and start them off with a low score. Hayley Moody the crimson tides top runner last fall as a frosh will give them a very good two spot and then their freshmen from texas will be third. Randy is getting is role players to improve and they will be the key to Alabama being 6th.

7. The SEC party continues! Vanderbilt for 7th. Another solid recruiting class and the return of Rita Jorgenson and pretty much the rest of the team puts them in 7th. They could move as high as 5th as the battle with Auburn, Alabama and Vanderbilt will be tight. Steve Keith has a young team with a lot of talent and they are going to get better and better each year

8. Georgia State with 4 of the top 5 girls back from last year this is a solid team, although the lack of a front runner and the turmoil in the athletic department could play into the teams chemistry and attitude. I hope the team can get past all the distractions and run well but there is lots going on in Atlanta

9. Georgia Tech- Drosky will lead a group of women who will become engineers to another top ten regional finish. I like Georgia tech because I like Atlanta but running on the streets around GT must get kind of boring for these girls. Great battle for 2nd place honors in the state of Georgia between tech and State.

10. UAB is tenth but if they hit it really well they could be 9th! They graduated 3 of there top 5 from last year and I know another one of their returners ended up with like ten stress fractures in her shins last outdoors. They signed two international girls who will help keep this team in the top ten.