Aug. 25, 2010
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Vanderbilt Women’s Cross Country team landed in a three-way tie for fourth place while the University of Florida was selected to win the women’s title, today, in the 2010 SEC Cross Country Coaches Preseason Poll ranking.
“Preseason polls are always interesting but you do have to take them with a grain of salt,” said Cross Country Coach, Steven Keith. “It is nice to see the women get some recognition with a tie for fourth (with Alabama and Tennessee), however, our season really comes down to how we run in November and that will continue to be our focus.”
In a vote by the league head coaches, Florida received all eleven first-place votes and tallied 11 total points for the top spot. The defending champion Gators have won four titles in the past, including back-to-back years in 1996 and 1997. Their first title came in 1984.
The Arkansas Razorbacks collected 24 points for second-place, followed by the Georgia Bulldogs with 35 points. There was a three-way tie for fourth with Alabama, Tennessee and Vanderbilt. All three schools received 52 points each.
In the Men’s Division, Alabama’s Crimson Tide captured seven first-place votes for a total of 13 points. As the two-time defending SEC Champions, the Crimson Tide has claimed three titles for the program’s history. The Tide is the first team since the 1989 and 1990 seasons to win back-to-back titles other than Arkansas in the sport.
The Razorbacks received four first-place votes and followed in second-place with 16 points, while Florida came in third with 34 points. Georgia posted 41 points for a fourth-place vote, while Auburn and Tennessee tied for fifth with 49 points to round out the top five.
Points for the men’s poll were awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 basis while the women’s poll was awarded on a 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11 basis.
The 2010 SEC Cross Country Championships, hosted by the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C., will be held Nov. 1.
Barring any injuries, Keith’s got his eye on the regionals where the team will have the opportunity to show their true mettle.
“Recruiting has gone well and our depth is as good as it has ever been so if we can stay healthy I can see some excellent results at the SEC and NCAA Region meets,” Keith said.
Vanderbilt’s season opener for men and women cross country is set for Sept. 3, 5:30PM at Percy Warner Park.
MEN
1. Alabama (7) 13
2. Arkansas (4) 16
3. Florida 34
4. Georgia 41
T5. Auburn 49
T5. Tennessee 49
7. Kentucky 67
8. Mississippi State 72
9. Ole Miss 73
10. LSU 95
11. Vanderbilt 96
WOMEN
1. Florida (11) 11
2. Arkansas 24
3. Georgia 35
T4. Alabama 52
T4. Tennessee 52
T4. Vanderbilt 52
7. Auburn 67
8. Kentucky 78
9. Mississippi State 96
10. South Carolina 97
11. LSU 113
12. Ole Miss 117
