The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
NCAA South Central Cross Country Regional
Hall defends regional crown, Texas men earn NCAA Championships berth
11.15.2013 | Track & Field / Cross Country
Marielle Hall cruises to victory in women’s 6K while the Longhorns place four in the top 10 in the men’s 10K at Friday’s NCAA South Central Regional in Waco.
Men's 10K Results | Women's 6K Results
WACO, Texas – Texas Cross Country senior Marielle Hall repeated as regional champion and the Longhorn men placed second as a team to punch their tickets to the NCAA Championships at the NCAA South Central Region meet on Friday morning at Cottonwood Creek Golf Course.
After taking home the Big 12 crown two weeks ago on the same 6,000-meter course, Hall cruised to a comfortable lead from the gun and crossed in 19 minutes, 40.7 seconds, 24 seconds ahead of her nearest competitor. It was the second straight regional title for the senior, who became the first Longhorn win the meet at the 2012 edition.
"Marielle stepped it up again today. She's really buying into the idea that she's one of the best in the country," coach Brad Herbster said. "It's exciting to see a girl like Marielle, who works so hard, be able to win these races. Marielle does everything by the book. She's consistent, and consistency in this sport is king, and she really proved her confidence today."
The Texas men's team placed four runners in the top 10 and all seven competitors in the top 25 to earn all-region honors and an automatic berth to the national meet for the sixth consecutive year. Ryan Dohner and Craig Lutz finished third and fourth in the 10,000m race with identical times of 29:52.7, while Chris Galvin was seventh (30:14.3) and Mark Pinales 10th (30:27.0). Eduardo Rodriguez round out scoring for Texas in 13th with a time of 30:44.8 and Collin Smith was close behind in 14th (30:45.0). Austin Roth placed 24th in 31:08.4.
"We ran in a great pack group today. That's the way we've been practicing and finally they pulled it off in a race," Herbster said. "We've kind of been splintered in the races. People have gone out too fast, people have gone out too slow, but this time we were right where we needed to be when we needed to be there. Seeing the guys work together and having six in the top 15 at this meet, that's a pretty impressive feat."
The No. 25 Longhorns tallied 37 points, just three points behind No. 9 Arkansas, who won the men's team title. The Razorbacks' Stanley Kebenei took home the men's individual championship in 29:41.3.
The UT women raced to fourth place in the team standings with 132 points. Megan Siebert joined Hall among all-region runners with a 15th-place finish in 20:54.0. Alaina Perez and Kaleigh Ervin crossed the line back-to-back in 37th (21:47.3) and 38th (21:48.3), respectively, and Brittany Marches placed 41st in 21:53.6. Katie Burford (49th, 22:06.3) and Meghan Shea (71st, 22:41.1) also competed for the Longhorns.
Arkansas won the meet on the women's side with 33 points and SMU earned the second team qualification with 116 points.
Hall earns an individual bid to the national meet as one of the top four finishers not a member of the automatically-selected top two teams. Thirteen additional teams and two individuals will receive at-large bids following the conclusion of the nine regional meets across the nation.
The NCAA Championships will be held Saturday, Nov. 23 at the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course in Terre Haute, Ind.
RESULTS – TEXAS MEN
3. Ryan Dohner (29:52.7, 3 points); 4. Craig Lutz (29:52.7, 4 points); 7. Chris Galvin (30:14.3, 7 points); 10. Mark Pinales (30:27.0, 10 points); 13. Eduardo Rodriguez (30:44.8, 13 points); 14. Collin Smith (30:45.0); 24. Austin Roth (31:08.4)
RESULTS – TEXAS WOMEN
1. Marielle Hall (19:40.7, 1 point); 15. Megan Siebert (20:54.0, 15 points); 37. Alaina Perez (21:47.3, 37 points); 38. Kaleigh Ervin (21:48.3, 38 points); 41. Brittany Marches (21:53.6, 41 points); 49. Katie Burford (22:06.3); 71. Meghan Shea (22:41.1).
