The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Women's Cross Country earns highest national ranking since 1999
10.19.2010 | XC: Women_Old, Track & Field / Cross Country
Oct. 19, 2010
AUSTIN, Texas -- After posting a fifth place finish at the ISU Pre-Nationals meet last weekend in Terre Haute, the University of Texas Women's Cross Country team earned its highest national ranking since 1999 and its first since 2003. The Longhorns are currently No. 15 in this week's U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) poll. In addition, the Longhorns moved to the top of the South Central Region rankings.
The last time Texas was ranked was Nov. 17, 2003 when they were No. 21 and went on to finish 31st at the NCAA Championships.
At the annual Pre-Nationals meet, Texas placed three runners in the top 40 to en route to picking up fifth place with 233 points. The Longhorns out ran the likes of No. 13 Washington, No. 15 Princeton, No. 18 Michigan State and No. 25 Arkansas.
Freshman Marielle Hall led the Horns with her 17th-place showing, the highest finish by a Longhorn ever at the meet. Hall was also the top freshman in the blue race with her personal-best 6K time of 20:41.7. Junior Mia Behm and freshman Megan Siebert placed 29th and 38th, respectively with personal best times of 20:50.9 and 21:04.6.
The Longhorns were the only team in both the blue and white races to have two true freshman finish in the top 40.
Up next for the Longhorns is the 2010 Big 12 Cross Country Championships on Oct. 30 at the Oklahoma State Cross Country Course.