Nov. 3, 2008
M. Results | W. Results | Season Stats
STARKVILLE, Miss. — Thomas Davis and Rita Jorgensen led the Commodores today at the SEC Championship in Starkville, Miss, where the men placed 11th overall (292) and the women eighth (177). Jorgensen finished in the top-20 runners at 21:31.54, Davis in the top 45 at 25:25.33.
“The women’s team was much better than last year, 40 points better, but the team place stayed the same at eighth,” Head Coach Steve Keith said about the women’s team. “I was very happy with the team focus and effort. Their desire to compete and mix it up was far better than last year, and with only one upperclassman in our top seven, our young squad should continue to mature and progress.
“This was a very good race for Thomas (a personal best) and 22 places better than last year,” noted Keith about the men’s squad. “This was our best team average of the year, but our 1-5 time gap wasn’t what we wanted. A closer grouping in the larger NCAA Regional meet will show much better for the men.”
Kristabel Doebel-Hickok (21:38.89), Adrienne DiRaddo (22:11.85), Alexa Rogers (22:33.71) and senior Amanda Scott (22:55.68) completed VU’s top-five racers for the women, while Rob Whiting (26:03.91), Michael Nordlund (26:11.33), James Kasten (26:23.44) and Kyle Rewick (26:35.68) followed Davis across the timeline.
“Kristabel ran the best race of her young career to finish as the No. 4 freshman in the meet, making the All-SEC freshmen team,” remarked Keith. “Following close by Rita’s side, she held on for 22nd and a much better effort than two weeks ago at Pre-Nationals.
“Rita was a little off today but still ran 12 places better than last year. Adrienne as well was 10 places better than last year.”
Alabama won the men’s title today with 32 points, while Auburn (62) and Arkansas (75) followed close behind. Arkansas grabbed the women’s championship (46), and Florida (53) and Tennessee (107) finished second and third. Host Mississippi State placed sixth overall (186) in the men’s meet, and ninth (252) on the women’s side.
Catherine White, Arkansas, submitted the top, overall time among the women at 20:07.26. Girma Mesecho, Auburn, constituted the top qualifier for the men (23:11.26).
The Commodores return to the cross country course for the NCAA Regionals in Maryville, Tenn., on Nov. 15.
“Overall, both teams competed very hard and are showing nice progress,” stated Keith. “We look forward to the upcoming NCAA Regionals and a chance to finish the season on a high note.”
