Cross Country Finishes Second, Fourth at SEC Championships

Saturday, October 28

Baton Rouge, LA

10:00 AM

Florida Gators

SEC Championship

Cross Country Finishes Second, Fourth at SEC Championships

Thursday, November 2, 2006 | Cross Country

The University of Florida men's and women's cross country teams both recorded their best Southeastern Conference Championship finishes since 2004 Saturday morning in Baton Rouge. The men's team was the conference runner up, with juniors Steven Hassen (Ocala, Fla.) and Enoch Nadler (Keystone Heights, Fla.) and sophomore Jeremy Criscione (Interlachen, Fla.) earning All-SEC honors. The women placed fourth, with junior Lindsay Sundell (Fort Salonga, N.Y) earning a place on the All-SEC team.

The men's second-place finish tied for their top finish under head coach Jeff Pigg. Hassen, who had a hernia surgery this summer, showed he was fully recovered, by leading the Gators in eighth-place overall with a time of 24:20.13 in the 8K race. His finish was the highest in an SEC meet by a Gator men's harrier since Steve Zieminski finished sixth in 2004. His time was the eighth fastest by a Gator in an 8K SEC meet. Criscione was Florida's second finisher in 11th overall with a time of 24:31.60. Florida's third finisher was Nadler with a time of 24:39.59 in 14th overall. The top 15 finishers earn All-SEC accolades. Seniors Ryder Leary (Yulee, Fla.) and Daniel Parker (Orlando, Fla.) rounded out the Florida scoring with Leary finishing 18th with a time of 24:50.64 and Parker finishing 22nd in 25:03.11. Florida's sixth and seventh finishers, junior Jose Garcia (Miami, Fla.) and freshman Justin Taylor (St. Augustine, Fla.) dug in to race ahead of Alabama's fifth finisher near the finish line, giving the Gators the two points they needed to finish ahead of the Tide.

“The guys had a very good day,” Pigg said. “These aren't the best times they have ran this season, but they ran hard and were working together the entire race to pass people. The SEC is better this year than it has been in a long time. It is not easy to have a good performance, but our team made a decision to fight. They knew they only way to beat Alabama was to continue to fight harder when we were hurting the most. I was proud of the way our team dug down and found a way, they were passing people right through the finish line.”

“Steven Hassen is good. He has continued to improve each race and was a great leader for us today. Criscione was solid as usual. Nadler ran one of his best races of the season. I was impressed with how Ryder Leary ran. It was a great race for him. What Daniel Parker did today was special. He did not train at all this summer. When he came back to school I promised him, if he did the things I said, he would be ready to run in the conference meet. He started training on August 25 and was able to score for us today. When he started training, the only people who believed he could do it was him, myself and head track coach Mike Holloway. Garcia and Taylor made the difference in the race for us. I am very proud of them.”

The women's fourth-place finish also tied for their best under Pigg. Sundell led the Gator women with the best race of her collegiate career. Sundell's eighth place finish was the highest finish in the SEC Championships for a Gator runner since Erin Merten finished fourth in 2001. Sundell's 6K time of 20:23.86 ranks second on the Gator all-time list, second only to Merten's time of 19:44.04 at the 2001 conference championship. Sophomore Jacy Kruzel (Cooper City, Fla,) raced to her season best time of 20:57.34 to finish 18^th overall. Following a ruling by the jury of appeals the women's results were altered. With the altered results senior Jamie Geissler (Spokane, Wash.) and sophomore Kathryn Kramer (Tampa, Fla.) finished in 24^th and 25^th, finishing in 21:09.84 and 21:10.73, respectively. Junior Kristen Johnson (Atlanta, Ga.) was the Gators final scorer in 28^th overall with a time of 21:19.52.

“Lindsay had a very, very good day,” Pigg said. “She finished just nine seconds off the winning time and she even led for part of the race. She is now realizing that she belongs up there in every race. Everyone was solid today, but it wasn't the best race we have won as a team. I think the only thing that is frustrating for the women is that they are better than the were last year and are a top-16 team, but that was not reflected in the results today. One of the goals of this team is to make a contribution to winning the SEC All-Sports Trophy. Had we had a great day, we could have beat a couple more team and been closer to helping accomplish that goal. Now our goal is to work hard at the South Regional meet and finish high enough there to earn the trip to the NCAA Championships.”

Arkansas won both the men's and the women's team titles. The title was the 15^th consecutive for the Razorback men. The Arkansas women broke a string of three straight titles by the Tennessee Lady Vols. It was the 11^th title since 1983 for the Lady Backs. Brooke Upshaw from Arkansas was the individual women's winner with a time of 20:14.90. The men's individual champion was Barnabas Kirui from Ole Miss with a time of 23:53.24.

Both Florida teams have next weekend off. They will return to action on November 11 for the NCAA South Regional Championship in Knoxville, Tenn. A top-two finish in that meet will earn the Gators an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships.

Men's Team Results

1. Arkansas – 21

2. FLORIDA – 73

3. Alabama – 75

4. Tennessee – 121

5. Georgia – 136

6. Mississippi State – 158

7. Kentucky – 208

8. Ole Miss – 222

9. LSU – 240

10. Vanderbilt – 252

11. Auburn – 301