Cross country set for SLC Championships
10/27/2010 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Oct. 27, 2010
Arlington, Texas - The UT Arlington men's and women's cross country teams will look to capture a Southland Conference Championship Thursday morning at the Bayou Din Golf Club in Beaumont, Texas. The women's 6-kilometer race will begin at 9 a.m. and the men's 8-kilometer race will follow at 9:45 a.m.
Both teams have seen action in five meets and are coming off competing at the Chile Pepper Invitational in Fayetteville, Ark where the women took 19th while the men placed 35th overall.
"Our team has the makings of a good cross country team and I feel like this group is very competitive," said Sauerhage. "They have proven in the past that they will run their best and I'm very confident that the women will have an outstanding performance."
The women's team has finished in the top five in all but one meet so far this season. A big reason for the team's success has been the presence of newcomer Emily Koenig.
The standout freshman has claimed three first place finishes and has earned the recognition of SLC Athlete of the Week on two occasions. At the Chile Pepper Invitational, Koenig's 23rd place finish was the highest individual finish by a UTA athlete at that meet.
"Emily has a real shot at winning the title Thursday," said John Sauerhage. She is very capable of obtaining this goal. I don't think there is other competitor that is superior to her."
If Koenig earns a first place finish she will be one of only three athletes to do so. Angela Nelson and Frida Rosenberg claimed the title in 1993 and 1995.
Last season, the women earned third place and were led by Jennifer Carey who finished 11th overall. UT Arlington looks to win their fifth ever title Thursday since the 2001 season.
The men's team will be led by sophomore Cody Widener who has led the Mavericks in three of their five meets and was named SLC Athlete of the Week on Sept. 14.
"We are hoping Heinz, Cody and Eric will be our top three finishers. They need to run their best race of the year if they want to finish in the top half of the meet," added Sauerhage.
The last time the Mavs won the title was in the 1999 season.
