Lady Hornets finish with two PR’s in NCAA South Regionals
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (bamastatesports.com) – The Alabama State University women’s cross country team completed their notable season at the NCAA South Region Championship finishing 30th overall with a score of 853 points in the NCAA South Regional Championships on Nov. 11 at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, hosted by Florida State University.
ASU had won their sixth consecutive SWAC Championship to qualify for this round.
The Lady Hornets had two runners run personal best times.
Freshmen Arion Span ran a spirited race as she placed 138th overall with a personal best time of 23.00 running the 6K distance.
Junior Janice Lane placed 179th overall to cross the line in a time of 23:42, setting her personal record.
Senior Tatiana Etienne finished with a time of 23:53.
Junior Sade Lavallias paced a time of 24:25, right behind her was senior Shakalia Williams with a time of 24:32.
Junior Haley Spears finished with a time 24.41 and senior Brandee Ebert closed with a time of 26:02.
“I think our freshman [Span] ran really well,” said ASU cross country head coach Ritchie Beene.
“She responded to the competition like I expected her to do. She had a great finish. I’m very excited about what’s to come. Overall, as a team, it was not a bad day. Of course, we would have liked to have done better. But I’m super proud of them because they gave a complete team effort.”
Mississippi State was the overall winner of the region followed by Ole Miss.
ASU will take some time off before they begin their preparations for the indoor track and field season, which begins in December.
“We’re going to give these girls a little bit of rest,” Beene added.
“And, then, we will start to getting on the track and training for the events. Most of these girls are mid-distance runners and 400-meter runners so I know that they’ll be really excited for that.”
Overall, coach Beene said the cross country season was a success.
“It started out slow, but I think it ended the way that we always expected,” Beene said.
“Any time that the kids can go out and win, that’s something that will always be with them forever. I’m super proud of them and also the job that coach [Michael] Snapp did with them to get them through the season.”
