UA women determined to run down national title

FAYETTEVILLE -- The course may be wet and muddy from some rain, but at least runners in today's NCAA Cross Country Championships in Terre Haute, Ind., shouldn't have to worry about freezing.

Last year's meet was run in 30-degree weather in Terre Haute with heavy winds that made it feel like about 20 degrees.

CROSS COUNTRY

NCAA Championships

WHEN Today. Women’s 6,000-meter race at 11 a.m. Men’s 10,000-meter race at noon.

WHERE Terre Haute, Ind.

ARKANSAS RANKINGS Women: No. 4. Men: No. 21

WEATHER FORECAST 48 degrees at race time with a possibility of rain.

Today's forecast calls for it to be 48 degrees when the women's 6,000-meter race starts at 11 a.m. The men's 10,000-meter race follows at noon.

Arkansas' women's team goes into the meet ranked No. 4 nationally while the men's team is ranked No. 21.

Razorbacks Dominique Scott and Stanley Kebenei -- who both won SEC and NCAA South Regional Central titles -- are among the favorites to win today's races.

The Arkansas women finished 15th at last year's nationals, but Coach Lance Harter said the team didn't handle the conditions well and is determined to run better today.

"We went in and literally froze at the start because it was so cold and miserable," Harter said. "I think we were a little too focused on being cold versus racing, and we ran very conservative.

"Ever since then, it's been a big point of motivation not to have that happen again. We've got really smart kids and they know we're not going to let history repeat itself."

Arkansas is led by Scott, a redshirt junior, along with seniors Grace Heymsfield, Shannon Kleine and Jessica Kamilos and redshirt junior Diane Robison.

Harter said he believes Arkansas is in the running to win the national title along with Michigan State, Oregon, Georgetown, Iowa State, Wisconsin and Colorado.

"There's a lot of parity on the women's side, and we're in that conversation of the teams to win it," said Harter, who has led Arkansas to eight top-10 finishes at nationals, including second in 1991, 1992, 1993 and 1999. "Dominique has been running lights out all year, and we've got a strong, experienced team behind her."

Arkansas Coach Chris Bucknam said his men's team, which took 10th last season, are looking to pull a surprise and finish higher than their No. 21 ranking.

Colorado, Syracuse and Oregon are the top three ranked men's teams.

"It's a little different role for us, not being one of the favorites," Bucknam said. "I'm excited to see us in chasing mode instead of being chased and see how we respond to that."

Kebenei finished sixth last year and Bucknam expects him to challenge for a top-five spot today. The Razorbacks' other top runners include junior Gabe Gonzalez, freshman Alex George, junior Cale Wallace and sophomore Aidan Swain.

Bucknam said the Razorbacks didn't have to overextend themselves in winning the NCAA South Central Regional title last Friday.

"Our guys are confident, they're loose, they're having fun here," Bucknam said. "I really like their body language. I don't feel any stress anywhere in the air."

Sports on 11/22/2014

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