Lady Bison Cross Country Races Saturday for South Region Title
Harding seeking its fourth regional championship.
by Scott Goode
Harding is coming off its fifth straight GSC championship.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Harding women’s cross country team will shoot for its fourth NCAA II South Region championship Saturday at Sydney Dover Trails in Dover, Fla., just outside Tampa. The six-kilometer race begins at 9 a.m. Eastern Time.
The Lady Bisons last won the South Region title in 2006 and also earned the regional championship in 2001 and 2005. Harding has placed second in the regional meet each of the last two years. The Lady Bisons will return six of the seven runners from last year's second-place finish.
The Lady Bisons have provided the South Region's individual champion on three occasions. Janet Kogo won the championship in 2002, Helen Singoei in 2004 and Janee Jones in 2007.
Harding is currently ranked No. 2 in the USTFCCCA South Region Poll and No. 24 nationally. Tampa is ranked No. 1 in the region. The top two teams in the race will qualify for the national meet on Nov. 21 in Evansville, Ind. Additionally, the top two runners on non-qualifying teams also advance to nationals.
The Lady Bisons won their fifth straight Gulf South Conference in their last outing on Oct. 24. Senior Katy Grant won the individual championship.
Below is Harding’s projected lineup for the race:
| Name |
Class |
6K Best |
'09 GSC |
'08 Regional |
| Katy Grant |
SR |
22:36 |
1st - 18:40
|
10th - 23:02 |
| Gosia Hightower |
SR |
23:45 |
16th - 20:12
|
23rd - 23:55 |
| Gladys Kimtai |
SO |
22:59 |
4th - 19:01
|
8th - 22:59 |
| Esther Kosgei |
SR |
22:53 |
3rd - 19:00
|
7th - 22:53 |
| Naomi Landecker |
FR |
23:27 |
9th - 19:52
|
--- |
| Mary Samoei |
SO |
23:40 |
7th - 19:36
|
17th - 23:40 |
| Rysper Sirma |
JR |
21:57 |
5th - 19:15
|
5th - 22:38 |