Rice University
NCAA South Central Regional
Owls Make History Winning NCAA Regional Crown
11/10/2007 12:00:00 AM | Women's Cross Country
Nov. 10, 2007
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The No. 16 Rice women made school history on Saturday, winning the program's first NCAA South Central Regional Championship and claiming an automatic bid to the national meet as the Owls scored 54 points at Fayetteville, Ark.
Heading into the meet, the Owls ranked second in the region behind host and 10th-ranked Arkansas, but upset the Southeastern Conference champion Razorbacks on their home course on Saturday. Arkansas finished with 70 points and was followed closely by Baylor's 75 points. Texas A&M was fourth with 140, while Texas wrapped up the top five with 148.
Rice produced another tremendous team performance as the top six Owls all finished within 35 seconds of one another. Freshman Allison Pye (Cypress Creek HS) led the Rice pack and finished sixth overall, completing the 6K course in 20:55.1. Sophomore Nicole Mericle (John Cooper School) edged freshman Becky Wade (Dallas, Texas) at the line to take ninth in 21:09.4. Wade placed 10th in 21:10.7.
The senior trio of Callie Wells, Lennie Waite and Marissa Daniels were next for Rice. Wells (The Woodlands HS) was 13th in 21:21.9, and Waite (Austin, Texas) was 16th in 21:27.3 to close out the scoring. Daniels (Pearland HS) battling leg cramps down the stretch was 17th in 21:30.5. Sophomore Britany Williams (San Antonio, Texas) finished 37th overal in 22:15.4.
Winning in the field of 120 runners was SMU's fantastic freshman Silje Fjortoft, who took the gold in 20:34.2, a full 11 seconds ahead of second-place Nicole Jones of Baylor. Arkansas's Denise Barjiachi was third in 20:48.6.
With the victory, the Owls earn one of two automatic bids from the region for the NCAA Cross Country Championships to be held on Nov. 19 in Terre Haute, Ind.
NCAA South Central Region Championships -- Rice Finishers
6. Allison Pye, 20:55.1
9. Nicole Mericle, 21:09.4
10. Becky Wade, 21:10.7
13. Callie Wells, 21:21.9
16. Lennie Waite, 21:27.3
17. Marissa Daniels, 21:30.5
37. Britany Williams, 22:15.4
NCAA South Central Region Championships -- Team Finishes
1. Rice, 54
2. Arkansas, 70
3. Baylor, 75
4. Texas A&M, 140
5. Texas, 145
6. Lamar, 166
7. SMU, 169
8. UALR, 236
9. Tulane, 239
10. Stephen F. Austin, 257
Players Mentioned
