UA Women’s x-country team buoys impressive season debut

BY DAVID SHOWERS Northwest Arkansas Times

Posted on Wednesday, September 10, 2008

URL: http://www.wholehogsports.com/nwat/68986/

The Arkansas women attained perfection in the first cross country meet of the season, finishing a convincing first at the Arkansas Dual meet last Friday in Fayetteville.

The first five runners over the finish line were all Razorbacks, with sophomore Catherine White leading the procession across the 4, 000 meter course. Her time of 14: 06. 5 decorated White with the SEC Female Runner of the Week honor. The performance was a repeat of last year, when White won the dual meet as a freshman.

UA women’s track coach Lance Harter said White could’ve posted a faster time if she hadn’t moderated her pace. Slowing down allowed her teammates to close the gap.

“ There’s no secret last Friday she was basically easing up to get her fellow teammates beside her, ” Harter said Tuesday during the women’s athletics press conference. “ She was totally under control. I think if she can keep her wits about her, she’s going to have a fantastic year. ”

An uninterrupted succession of four more Razorbacks followed White over the line. Senior Dacia Perkins, formerly Dacia Barr prior to her marriage to fellow Razorback runner Adam Perkins this summer, finished second (14: 06. 9 ). Senior Denise Bargiachi took third (14: 06. 9 ), and junior Miranda Walker followed in fourth place (14: 14. 3 ).

Senior Christine Kalmer’s fifth-place showing (14: 15. 9 ) gave Arkansas a perfect score of 15, culminating a 33-point win over Missouri Southern. Jillian Rosen finished seventh despite suffering from allergies.

“ Jillian Rosen has been attacked by allergies, ” Harter said. “ She has an incredible sensitivity to allergies. She’s getting medically taken care of [Tuesday ] for that. ”

Megan Jackson and Ashley Williams respectively claimed eighth and ninth place.

Harter said White’s rapid ascent has bolstered the team, supplementing the strength of seniors Bargiachi, Kalmer and Perkins. After arriving at the UA by way of Roanoke, Va., White’s form and fitness has increased exponentially, Harter said.

“ Catherine White is truly a unique individual, ” Harter said. “ She came in highly touted out of the East Coast as a prep. She had good prep experience and good marks. Her growth rate from cross country to indoor and outdoor is almost perpendicular.

“ She just got better and better every season, and she’s carried that momentum through the summer where she competed for the U. S. team in the World Junior Championships in Poland. She’s very, very strong, very confident. I’m really excited about what she can do to contribute to the overall team. ”

The Razorbacks head west this weekend to defend their title at the Aztec Invitational, a five-kilometer race at San Diego’s Balboa Park. Rosen was third last year at San Diego and was one of five Razorbacks to finish in the top 10. The Razorbacks ’ 28 points bested secondplace UC-Santa Barbara by 69 points.

Arkansas will be joined in the field by Air Force, Northern Arizona, Santa Barbara, USC and UNLV. Following a three-week break, Arkansas returns west for the six-kilometer Bill Dellinger Invitational hosted by Oregon Oct. 4 in Eugene.