XC Countdown 2014

XC COUNTDOWN: #3 Arkansas Women

XC COUNTDOWN: #3 Arkansas Women

Aug 31, 2014 by FloTrack Staff
XC COUNTDOWN: #3 Arkansas Women


Head Coach:
Lance Harter (25th Year)
 
Last Year:
1st SEC
1st South Central Regional
15th NCAA 
 
Probable Top Five:
JR Dominique Scott (4:14 1500m; 9:02 3k; 15:42 5k; 33:51 10k; 28th NCAA XC '13)
SR Grace Heymsfield (4:20 1500m; 9:05 3k; 15:55 5k; 9:49 3k Steeple; 102nd NCAA XC '13)
SR Diane Robison (4:22 1500m; 9:19 3k; 15:47 5k; 33:47 10k; 116th NCAA XC '13)
SR Jessica Kamilos (9:32 3k; 16:28 5k; 9:49 3k Steeple; 16th South-Central Region XC '13)
SO Sandie Raines (9:40 3k; 16:22 5k; 34:59 10k; 131st NCAA XC '13)
 
Impact Freshman/Recruits:
Sydney Brown - Marcus, TX (5:00 1600m; 10:44 3200m)
Kelsey Schrader - DeKalb, IL (5:07 1600m; 10:59 3200m; 4th IL State XC '13)
Aubree Worden - From Florida State (4:19 1500m; 16:42 5k; 75th NCAA XC '11)
 
Analysis:
Since Coach Lance Harter migrated from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo 25 years ago to become the head coach of the Razorback women, Arkansas has always been competitive. A good argument could be made, though, that this could be one his best teams. 
 
Last year, they tore through the SEC and South Central Regional, winning both and then placing a respectable 15th in Indiana. This year, Arkansas looks ready to make a leap to the podium. Five kilometer times for his top five read like this: 15:42 (Dominique Scott), 15:47 (Diane Robison), 15:55 (Grace Heymsfield), 16:22 (Sandie Raines), 16:28 (Jessica Kamilos), and you get an idea of the kind of quality depth that Harter has returning.
Throw into the mix Florida State transfer, Aubree Worden, who has run 4:19 for 1500m, 16:42 for 5k, and placed 75th in the NCAA cross meet way back in 2011, and they become even more impressive.

The South Africa native, Dominique Scott, has a 4:14 for 1500m to her name and she can close in races as she has shown indoors, outdoors, and on the grass. She is just a junior, and by virtue of her competitiveness, will be a leader for the Lady Razorbacks.
The girl from next door, Grace Heymsfield, was a three time Arkansas state cross champion and the first high school girl to run under five minutes in the state. She has moved way beyond that, and last year turned in some of the finest steeplechase times in the country and had a PR of 9:49. Also with a 9:49 3k steeple, senior Jessica Kamilos should move herself up on the cross country scene as well.

Perhaps the key to this year’s rise is senior Diane Robison from Chesterfield, Missouri. She has improved steadily each year, and last year showed her new range with a 4:22 1500m, 15:47 5k, and a 33:47 10k to boast of. She will be better than last year’s 116th and could move into All-American status. Sophomore Sandie Raines had a stellar frosh year running 131st at the championships and then adding a 34:59 10k on the track to her resume.

Reaching the podium is not an unlikely result for the ladies from the Natural State. If they can pull it together on Novemeber 22nd, then Coach Harter will be coming home with some heavy hardware.

#3 NAU Men
#4 Georgetown Women