GOLDEN SUNS SET TO RUN AT THIS YEAR'S NCAA DIVISION II
SOUTH REGIONAL CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS

        RUSSELLVILLE, Arkansas – The Arkansas Tech Golden Suns Cross Country team is set to compete in 2009 NCAA Division II South Regional, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7 at Sydney Dover Trails in Tampa, Florida.

This year’s meet will be hosted by the University of Tampa. The 6,000-meter women’s race will begin at following the 10,000-meter men’s race, which is slated to begin at 7 a.m. CST. The top two women’s teams will advance to the NCAA D-II National Championship Meet. In addition, the top two individuals from a non-qualifying team and all individuals in the top five overall will also advance to this year’s National Championship Meet, which is scheduled for Nov. 21 in Evansville, Ind.

The Golden Suns, who finished 3rd at this year’s Gulf South Championships, enter this year’s regional meet ranked sixth in the latest USTFCCCA South Region Poll. Tech finished fourth at last year’s South Regional Meet in Searcy, Ark.

“Our kids are excited and are ready to compete on Saturday at the NCAA Regional Meet,” Golden Suns Head Coach Tom Aspel said. “We’re ready to get the chance to run on a dry surface finally after all the rain around here.”

Leading the way for Tech are freshman Bailee Miller (Dover. Ark.) and senior Melissa Pollreis (Gravette, Ark.). Miller, who was named a five-time GSC Women’s Cross Country Runner of the Week this season, has been the Golden Suns top finisher in every meet this year, including having two first place finishes and taking home second place honors and GSC Freshman of the Year honors at the GSC Championship Meet on Oct. 24. Pollreis has had two Top 15 finishes this year, including a fourth place finish at the Harding Lady Bison Stampede. 

Among the other competitors expected to run for Tech on Saturday are junior Lauren Karnitz (DeSoto, Kan.), junior Stormi Richardson (Lumberton, Texas) junior Michelle Pollreis (Gravette, Ark.) and sophomore Jenna Siebenmorgen (Fort Smith, Ark.).

          NCAA Division II South Regional Cross Country Championships Home Page

           -- Tech Athletics --