Sept. 24, 2007
Women’s Regional Rankings | Men’s Regional Rankings
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After several weeks of competition, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association released its most recent NCAA Division I cross country regional rankings for both the men’s and women’s teams. Each region ranks its top fifteen teams.
The Vanderbilt women’s team is currently ranked sixth in the South Region after receiving a preseason rank of fifth.
“I think fifth, sixth, and seventh place are up for grabs,” explained head coach Steve Keith, who was not surprised by the Commodores placement in the rankings. “It’s kind of where I thought we would be, but we’re not going to settle with where we are right now.”
The performances of Rita Jorgensen and Carmen Mims have been crucial for this season’s squad to achieve its current status. Jorgensen has been the number one runner for the Commodores in both the Belmont/Vanderbilt Opener and the Commodore Classic, an event in which she won. Mims finished fourth in the Commodore Classic and tenth in the Belmont/Vanderbilt Opener. Julie Eckerly has also been a constant for the Commodores, finishing eleventh in each of the first two meets this season. Adrienne DiRaddo scored a ninth place finish in the Belmont/Vanderbilt Opener and a thirteenth place showing in the Commodore Classic. Ellen Black also has contributed significantly to the program in 2007. Black scored as a top five runner for Vanderbilt for the first time in the Commodore Classic.
In all, the Southeastern Conference placed six teams in the top fifteen of the South Region, with four in the top six. Florida State is the top ranked team in the South Region, with Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, and UAB rounding out the top five.
The Vanderbilt men’s cross country team jumped one spot to twelfth after being ranked thirteenth in the preseason poll.
“The men finished thirteenth in the region last year. We’re a couple of points out of being in the top ten, but I think for the most part it’s an accurate placing,” said Keith. “However, it’s just rankings. The great thing about the sport is that at the end of the season, everyone lines up on the same line, and they rank themselves at that point.”
On the men’s side, the top three runners have been the same in each of the first two meets. Austin Williamson has been the steady hand for the Commodores, leading the team and finishing seventh overall in both meets to date this season. Thomas Davis has finished second for Vanderbilt, recording a 21st place showing at the Commodore Classic and 25th place finish at the Belmont/Vanderbilt Opener. Rick Semones has been the third runner, finishing 27th overall at the Belmont/Vanderbilt Opener and 41st at the Commodore Classic.
Alabama is the top ranked team in the South Region, and seven of the top fifteen ranked teams are from the Southeastern Conference.
The Vanderbilt cross country teams return to action this Saturday when the men’s team travels to Louisville for the Louisville Invitational. The women’s team will split squads and run in both Louisville, at the Louisville Invitational, and Williamsburg, Va., at the Colonial Inter-Regional Challenge.
