Florida Gators
South Region Championship
One Gator Harrier Qualifies for NCAA Championship
Saturday, November 10, 2001 | Cross Country
The University of Florida's Rolando Ortiz is the only Gator student-athlete to qualify for the 2001 NCAA Cross Country Championships after placing eighth at the South Regional Championships. The Florida men's team placed fifth overall and women's team was eighth at the meet held this morning at Harry Pritchett Golf Course in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The top two teams from the region automatically qualify for NCAA Championships, as well as the top four individuals not on one of the top two teams.
Ortiz and Moise Joseph earned All-South Region honors for finishing in the top 25 in the men's 10K race. Ortiz ran a 31:23.27 to finish eighth and be one of the four individuals from the region to qualify for the NCAA Championships. Joseph finished 24th with a career-best 10K time of 32:06.30.
Alabama won the championship with 55 points. The Tide's David Kimani was the individual champion with a time of 30:06.43. The other South Region men's team that qualified was Tennessee with 84 points.
Senior Erin Merten was the first Florida finisher for the women's team. She earned All-Region honors for her 20th place finish with a time of 22:08.37 on the 6K course. Kelly Walker was Florida's second finisher with a time of 22:25.67.
Georgia Tech won the team title with 54 points. The top individual was Renee Metivier from Georgia Tech with a time of 20:20.39. The other team to qualify for the NCAA Championships was South Florida with 102 points.
Ortiz will travel to Greenville, S.C. for the NCAA Championships on Monday, November 19, 2001.
Men's Team Results
- Alabama - 55
- Tennessee - 84
- Florida St. - 85
- Georgia Tech - 90
- Florida - 154
Florida Individuals
8) Rolando Ortiz - 31:23.27
24) Moise Joseph - 32:06.30
41) Chris Duncan - 32:39.14
44) Donnell Bowen - 32:53.16
47) Cory Presnick - 32:57.41
59) Courtney Chambers - 33:18.83
92) Steve Zieminski - 34:27.09
Women's Team Results
- Georgia Tech - 54
- South Florida - 102
- Florida St. - 113
- Belmont - 140
- Vanderbilt - 146
- Florida - 188
Florida Individuals
20) Erin Merten - 22:08.37
28) Kelly Walker - 22:25.67
36) Jessica Newton - 22:40.75
53) Norma Vega - 23:04.47
56) Nona Allen - 23:07.64
87) Carling Cookerly - 24:01.68
