University of Tennessee Athletics
Bowman, Lady Vols Finish Third at SEC Cross Country Championships
November 03, 2008 | Women's Cross Country
Nov. 3, 2008
STARKVILLE, Miss. - Sarah Bowman became only the second woman in University of Tennessee cross country history to earn all-league acclaim four times, carding a personal-best third-place finish Monday morning as her team also placed third at the Southeastern Conference Championships at Mississippi State University Horse Park.
A senior from Warrenton, Va., Bowman joined Sharon Dickie in that elite company by clocking a time of 20 minutes, 27.26 seconds on the surprisingly hilly 6,000-meter course on a sunny, 75-degree day in the Magnolia State. For her career, she also logged conference outcomes of fourth in 2007, seventh in 2006 and sixth in 2005.
The Lady Vol standout, who set the pace for her team for the 13th time in her career and for the 12th occasion in her past 13 races, carded her 10th top-five individual finish. She ran with eventual winner Catherine White of Arkansas (20:07.26) and runner-up finisher Hollie Knight of Auburn (20:18.52) for nearly the entire race. Over the final 1000 meters, however, Bowman's bid to become UT's third-ever SEC champion and first league winner since 1990 came up short.
"Sarah has been running very consistently," Big Orange Head Coach J.J. Clark said. "She hung tough, looked great and had a chance to win the race. She's a competitor and wanted to win today, but she still helped her team to third place today."
"The fact that she was All-SEC today for the fourth time in her career shows her consistency in cross country. Every year, she's gotten stronger and stronger, which indicates she's maturing in that area. We are just looking forward to her going for All-America honors in cross country in a few weeks, hopefully."
Bowman's effort, in deed, enabled UT to snare third place in the team standings with 107 points, marking the eighth consecutive season, as well as the 14th time in 26 league meets, the Lady Vols had accomplished that task. No. 13 Arkansas claimed the title with 46 points, followed closely by No. 14 Florida at 53. Behind the Big Orange women were Georgia (117), Auburn (127), Kentucky (134), Alabama (170), Vanderbilt (177), Mississippi State (252), South Carolina (262), Ole Miss (333) and LSU (341).
Sophomore Brittany Sheffey (Bellport, N.Y.) joined Bowman in earning All-SEC acclaim, securing her first career honor by crossing the line 12th in 21:02.25. Her second-place finish on her squad was the best of her two-year stint at Rocky Top, and she kept alive her streak of scoring in all 11 collegiate races she has run.
Also contributing to the point total for Team Orange were junior Phoebe Wright (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) in 23rd in a personal-best 21:39.26, junior Jackie Areson (Delray Beach, Fla.) in 29th at 21:51.29, and senior Rolanda Bell (Laurelton, N.Y.) in 40th at 22:09.75. Running but not scoring was a trio of freshmen in Elizabeth Altizer (Bartlett, Tenn.), taking 56th in 22:58.02, Ally Colvin (Maryville, Tenn.), finishing 78th in 23:39.38, and Elizabeth Tiller (Tuscaloosa, Ala.), winding up 93rd in 25:20.72.
"It was a mixed review today," Clark said. "We had some good, and we had some who could have done better. Obviously, as a team, we would like to win this meet, but it is good to see our program showing consistency in keeping our finishes confined to the top three of the SEC.
"In addition to Sarah, Brittany Sheffey and Phoebe Wright looked very, very good. Jackie Areson and Rolanda Bell were a little higher up. Jackie was 15th or so at this meet her freshman year, so she's capable of doing better. She had some injuries earlier in the season that slowed her progress. Rolanda didn't hit her rhythm today, but she has a lot of talent to jump right back into the swing of things."
With the finish Monday, Tennessee improved its won-lost record to 81-12 on the season and 11-3 vs. SEC schools in 2008. That strengthens Clark's overall record in 17 league meets to 162-25, including 70-7 during his time in Knoxville. Additionally, the seventh-year UT skipper improved his overall record at Rocky Top to 703-121-1.
The Lady Vols will now turn their attention toward the NCAA South Regional meet, which Tennessee will play host to on Nov. 15 at Lambert Acres Golf Club in Maryville. Race times are 10 a.m. for the women and 10:45 a.m. for the men.
