Arkansas Razorback women’s cross country head coach Lance Harter has been named the South Central Regional Coach of the Year, it was announced by the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association on Thursday.

Harter, earning the regional coach of the year award for the 12th time in his career, has led Arkansas to 13 SEC titles in his 19 seasons as head cross country coach.

The Razorbacks are ranked 11th in the nation after registering back-to-back championships at the South Central Regional and Southeastern Conference Championships. Last weekend, Arkansas won the regional crown with 51 points, 10 points ahead of Baylor and Rice.

The Razorbacks now have 15 regional titles to their credit. Since the regional meets were first conducted in 1982, Arkansas has been among the top three teams every season and has been one of the two automatic bids to the NCAA Championships 22 times.

ADVERTISEMENT

The Razorbacks will run at the NCAA Championships, Monday in Terre Haute, Ind. The women’s 6K race is set to go off at 11 a.m. at the LaVern Gibson Championship Course.

The Razorbacks are making their 22nd appearance at the NCAA Championships. Their highest finish, second on three occasions, came in 1991, 1992 and 1993. Denise Bargiachi, Megan Jackson, Christine Kalmer, Samantha Learch, Dacia Perkins, Jillian Rosen and Catherine White are scheduled to compete at the 2008 NCAA Championships.