There is no question that this year’s women’s cross country team has faced adversity and have stepped up to the challenge with success.
With All-American runner Jess Butler out all year due to a leg injury and eight freshmen on the roster, the team has rallied and sprinted to awards and honors this season.
The squad won their fourth straight NCAA Division II South Regional championship last Saturday in Huntsville, Ala. to advance to the NCAA Championships in Louisville, Ky.
Senior Heather Nicolosi, a member of the 2010 All-SSC team led the Spartans with a first place finish with a time of 20:50 in the 6k race. Adding to the trophy case, Nicolosi also took home 2010 Conference Runner of the Year honors.
Finishing behind Nicolosi in the top-10 was junior Lindsay Edwards, (4) and sophomore Kaia Hampton (10). Both women also claimed All-SSC honors. Other noticeable runners for the Spartans were Iolani Scanlon (17th, 23:27.3), Kelly Hagan (20th, 23:34.1) in the field of 104.
UT’s women team left the South Regional championship knowing that they will be traveling to the NCAA Championships on Saturday Dec. 4.
Nicolosi knows it will be tough with the roster present, but believes the team can overcome obstacles.
“I think our team has worked extremely hard this season. We are a very young team entering nationals and it will be a very big challenge for us,” Nicolosi stated.
In the beginning of the season, the Spartans welcomed eight new freshmen to the team while losing successful runners to graduation.
The NCAA Championships is not a foreign site for the Spartans. The squad is entering their fourth consecutive appearance after posting a 10th place finish in 2009, and a 14th place showing in 2008.
With success evident in the 2010 season, optimism stays strong even with a younger team compared to past seasons.
“I and two other girls are the only girls who have been to nationals. I do think our team will do well, it’s just hard to judge a team from year-to-year because it is each person in the group who makes a difference,” said Nicolosi.
As the team travels to Kentucky, Coach Jarrett Slaven will try and guide the team to a national championship.
In a season, it is usually the runners who show the success of a team, but along with runners claiming awards, Coach Slaven took home the Sunshine State Conference Coach of the Year.
Slaven and the cross team will try to bring back the coveted national championship trophy on Saturday Dec.4 in Louisville, Ky.
Michael Paonessa can be reached at mpaonessa@spartans.ut.edu.