Nov. 15, 2008
Men’s Results | Women’s Results | Season Stats
MARYVILLE, Tenn. — Thomas Davis and Rob Whiting guided the Commodores to a 13th overall team finish (401) at the NCAA South Regional Championship Saturday at Lambert Acres Golf Club in Maryville, Tenn.
“The men improved one place over last year and gained a lot of good experience for the frehmen running their first 10k (6.2 miles) cross country,” Steve Keith, VU head coach, said. “Thomas and Rob led the team as they have all year and they had some spirited races.”
Both runners crossed the timeline at 33:50.17 (64th place) and 33:51.31 (65th place). Davis shaved almost 30 seconds off his 2007 finish.
Rita Jorgensen led the women’s squad to a seventh overall team placement (200). The sophomore runner submitted a top-20 performance at 21:24.32, a No.14 overall peformance.
The women’s team trimmed 95 points off their 2007 score (295), and placed four spots higher than last season. The men’s team ascended past its 2007 finish of 14th as well.
Redshirt freshman Kristabel Doebel-Hickok also impressed on Saturday. Doebel-Hickok turned in a top-30 time at 22:00.02, good enough for the No. 27 overall mark. The women’s squad saw five runners cross the timeline within the top-60 runners.
Alabama won the men’s title (49), while Auburn (59), Florida State (66), Florida (133) and Tennessee (156) followed. Florida State won the women’s South Regional with a 41 point team score. Florida (64), Tennessee (116), Georgia (154) and Auburn (156) rounded out the top five.
“It was good to finish a place better than we did at SEC and ahead of Alabama for the women and ahead of Ole Miss for the men,” Keith noted.
The Seminoles and Crimson Tide repeated as champions, having won the 2007 South Regional.
