The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Sisson named USTFCCCA South Central Region Women's Cross Country Coach of the Year
11.17.2010 | XC: Women_Old, Track & Field / Cross Country
Nov. 17, 2010
NEW ORLEANS -- University of Texas Women's Cross Country coach Steve Sisson has been named the 2010 U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) South Central Region Women's Coach of the Year as voted by the Division I coaches, the organization announced Wednesday. It is the first coaching award for Sisson, who is in his fifth season with the Longhorns. He is one of nine coaches nationally to receive the honor for their region.
Sisson has mentored the 2010 Longhorns to their best season since 2003. Over the course of the fall, Texas earned its highest national ranking since 1999 when it came in at No. 15 following the ISU Pre-Nationals meet, won four team titles and placed in the top five twice.
At the Pre-Nationals meet, which is run on the same course as the upcoming NCAA Championships, the Longhorns posted a fifth-place finish in the blue race, crossing the line ahead of four Top 25 teams. In addition, Texas was the only school in both the white and blue race to have two true freshman finish in the top 40, in Marielle Hall (17th) and Megan Siebert (38th).
After finishing fifth at the Big 12 Championships, Texas went on to win the NCAA South Central Region Championship for the first time since 2003. The Horns placed four runners in the top eight and all five of their scorers were named to the All-Region Team. Junior Mia Behm led the group with a 6K personal best of 20:20.5 for second place and was followed by Hall who posted a PR of 20:40.8 for fifth. Junior Julie Amthor crossed the line in sixth in a career-best 20:43.7 while freshman Sara Sutherland clocked a PR of 20:49.7 for ninth. Sophomore Laleh Mojtabaeezamani rounded out scoring for the Horns finishing 25th in a personal-best time of 21:21.4.
The Longhorns will be making their first team appearance at the NCAA Championships since 2003 and their 11th overall in program history. The 2010 national meet takes place Monday, Nov. 22 at 11 a.m. Central in Terre Haute, Ind.