UK Cross Country Impresses at SEC Championship (and the best flight safety video EVER)
While you were working through your Halloween hangover and trying to figure out why exactly you woke up wearing a Wonderwoman mask when you're pretty sure you went out as Batman, UK's Cross Country teams were putting in strong performances at the SEC Championship meet in Gainesville FL. Both teams were looking to improve on last year's performances where the men finished 6th and the women 5th, and both teams did exactly that. The men edged 6th place Auburn by two points to finish 5th while the women finished behind only Arkansas and Texas A&M for third overall.
[caption id="attachment_144366" align="alignnone" width="300"]
h/t secdigitalnetwork.com[/caption]
The men were again led by the Senior duo of Matt Hillenbrand (12th in 24:17) and Adam Kahleifeh (16th in 24:27). The Cat's top five was filled out by Juniors Wilson MacKay and Jared Phillips (36th and 49th), followed by Senior Robbie Scharold (68th). For the women, Cally Macumber led UK with her 7th place performance, finishing the 6k race in 20:35. Fellow Seniors Allison Peare and Anna Bostrom were next for the Cats in 23rd and 25th respectively, with Freshman Cassidy Hale turning in her strongest performance of the season to finish 26th in 21:22, only two seconds behind Bostrom. Junior Taylor Wendler rounded out the scoring with her 54th place finish.
Now, because I couldn't find a second relevant photo, enjoy this awesome safety video from Virgin America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtyfiPIHsIg#t=281
Told you it was awesome. Now back to Cross Country stuff.
Although Macumber was unable to defend her individual SEC title from a year ago, the women should be encouraged by their team result. Arkansas is one of the top teams in the nation and should contend for a National Championship. They showed it today, finishing 91 points clear of second place. However, the Cats finished ahead of 30th ranked Mississippi and a strong Vanderbilt team that received votes in the latest poll. I still don't think they've done enough to earn an at-large bid to Nationals if they don't finish top two at Regionals, however if they finish just outside the top two and ahead of some ranked teams at Regionals they could work their way into the conversation.
Both teams return to action on November 15th in Charlottesville, VA at the Southeast Regional Championship.
Follow me on twitter, @BenduranceKSR
h/t secdigitalnetwork.com[/caption]
The men were again led by the Senior duo of Matt Hillenbrand (12th in 24:17) and Adam Kahleifeh (16th in 24:27). The Cat's top five was filled out by Juniors Wilson MacKay and Jared Phillips (36th and 49th), followed by Senior Robbie Scharold (68th). For the women, Cally Macumber led UK with her 7th place performance, finishing the 6k race in 20:35. Fellow Seniors Allison Peare and Anna Bostrom were next for the Cats in 23rd and 25th respectively, with Freshman Cassidy Hale turning in her strongest performance of the season to finish 26th in 21:22, only two seconds behind Bostrom. Junior Taylor Wendler rounded out the scoring with her 54th place finish.
Now, because I couldn't find a second relevant photo, enjoy this awesome safety video from Virgin America.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DtyfiPIHsIg#t=281
Told you it was awesome. Now back to Cross Country stuff.
Although Macumber was unable to defend her individual SEC title from a year ago, the women should be encouraged by their team result. Arkansas is one of the top teams in the nation and should contend for a National Championship. They showed it today, finishing 91 points clear of second place. However, the Cats finished ahead of 30th ranked Mississippi and a strong Vanderbilt team that received votes in the latest poll. I still don't think they've done enough to earn an at-large bid to Nationals if they don't finish top two at Regionals, however if they finish just outside the top two and ahead of some ranked teams at Regionals they could work their way into the conversation.
Both teams return to action on November 15th in Charlottesville, VA at the Southeast Regional Championship.
Follow me on twitter, @BenduranceKSR
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