TERRE HAUTE, Ind. — There was no Arkansas miracle at the NCAA Cross Country Championships on Monday.

The Razorbacks had their worst showing in 39 national meets when they finished 28 th with 579 points. The program’s previous worst point total was 482 in 1977, and its worst finish was 27 th in 1974.

Defending champion Oregon won the men’s 10 K race with 93 points, followed by Iona with 147 and Stanford with 147. Washington won the women’s 6 K race with 79 points, followed by Oregon with 131 and Florida State with 163.

Teams enter seven runners with the top five finishers scoring. The team race is decided by adding the finishes of the top five runners, and the lowest score wins.

Arkansas’ dismal showing continued a cross country slide that began last year in John Mc-Donnell’s last season as coach when the Razorbacks finished 23 rd with 470 points, despite entering the meet ranked No. 7. After winning their third consecutive national title in 2000, the Razorbacks finished no lower than sixth until the past two years.

Senior Scott MacPherson was the Razorbacks’ lone bright spot, finishing 32 nd in 30 minutes, 6. 80 seconds. MacPherson earned All-America status for his top-40 finish, the second time he has earned the honor in his career.

Freshman Eric Fernandez was the Razorbacks’ second finisher, in 152 nd place in 31: 17. 10. No other Arkansas runner finished in the top ©.

The Razorbacks finished third at the SEC meet in early November, snapping a conference championship streak of 34 years. Arkansas showed improvement to finish second at the South Central Regional meet but could not carry the momentum over to nationals.

“Obviously, we are disappointed with the finish,” Arkansas Coach Chris Bucknam said. “Scott MacPherson was our shining moment. He ran a great race, was smart and made moves at the right time. He has been our go-to guy all season, and I’m so proud of him.

“ We are going to pick ourselves up and start training for track season.”

Arkansas women’s Coach Lance Harter was less disappointed than Bucknam after his team’s 15 th-place finish. The UA women, ranked No. 11, had been led all year by sophomore Catherine White but underperformed Monday.

White, the SEC individual champion, wasn’t even Arkansas ’ No. 1 runner and finished 65 th in 20: 55. 60. Auburn’s Hollie Knight, whom White beat at conference, was 11 th in 20: 12. 70.

Senior Denise Bargiachi was Arkansas’ top runner in 54 th place in 20: 51. 70. Senior Dacia Perkins was 102 nd in 21: 12. 80.

“We had higher expectations than how we finished,” Harter said. “Most schools would be thrilled with a 15 th-place finish. We were just expecting more. We had good reason for lofty goals.”

Harter said the team ran together in winning the South Central Regional meet, when 24 seconds separated the Razorbacks’ first and fifth runners. On Monday, the Razorbacks started slowly and never recovered.

“I think we were a little too casual in our start,” Harter said. “We were farther back than we thought we’d be, and there was a degree of panic. We were out of our comfort zone after the start and never got into a good rhythm.”