Cross Country Set to Host SEC Championships Friday
10/30/2014 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Video Interviews - Dan Waters | Katelyn Greenleaf | Matt Airola
Meet Program and Alabama Notes - 2014 SEC Championship Program 
| Alabama Notes
This Week: SEC Cross Country Championships
The University of Alabama plays host to the 2014 SEC Cross Country Championships at the Harry Pritchett Running Park in Tuscaloosa this Friday, October 31. The women will race in the 6k at 9:00 a.m. Central Time (CT), while the men's 8k is slated to begin at 10 a.m. CT.
Playing Host
This Friday, Alabama will host the 2014 SEC Cross Country Championships. The Tide has played host to the men's championships four times since 1972 and the women's championships twice since 1988. Admission is free and the event is open to the general public
In the Rankings
The Alabama women's team moved up two slots to third in the USTFCCCA South Regional rankings released October 20 after falling to fifth briefly before its win at home in the Crimson Classic. The men are ranked 10th in the latest USTFCCCA South Region rankings (Oct. 20).
Head Coach Dan Waters' Outlook
"Each race we've entered this year has prepared us for this championship. The athletes have shown great fitness and motivation throughout the season, which gives the coaching staff a lot of confidence going into this weekend."
Last Year at the SEC Championships
At last year's SEC championship in Gainesville, Fla. (hosted by the University of Florida), the women's squad finished sixth, led by then-sophomore Katelyn Greenleaf, who finished ninth individually. Then-junior Matt Airola led the men to an 11th place finish.
Women Win Three of Four
After a first-place finish at the Crimson Classic on October 17, the women's cross country team has won three of four races entered this season. They enter the SEC Championships with wins at the Samford Dual, the Asheville Cross Carnival and the Crimson Classic, coupled with a top-10 finish at the competitive Paul Short Invitational.
Alabama's History at the SEC Championships
Alabama cross country teams have won a total of five Southeastern Conference team titles (three men's titles, two women's team titles) and produced 12 SEC individual champions (eight men, four women). The Crimson Tide has won men's team titles in 1973, 2008 and 2009 while the women won team crowns in 1986 and 1987. The great David Kimani won SEC men's titles for Alabama in 2000, 2001 and 2002. Other Tide individual men's winners were Robert Peete (1959-60), Steve Bolt (1976), German Beltran (1988) and Emmanuel Bor (2007). For the women, Evelyn Adiru won the individual title in 1985 and 1987 before Carole Trepanier took the title in 1988.
Previous Results at Tuscaloosa
2014 will mark the fifth time the SEC championships have been hosted at the Harry Pritchett Running Course. Previous years are as follows: 1972 (M), 1979 (M), 1988 (M&W) and 2000 (M&W). In 2000, the Tide men finished second behind Arkansas. Alabama's David Kimani was the top individual finisher, while the women finished 5th.
Alabama's Team Championships at the Men's SEC Championships
1973: (Gainesville, Fla.) The Crimson Tide captured its first SEC title with 41 points, edging out Tennessee who scored 47 points.
2008: (Starkville, Miss) UA ended its 35 year drought by capturing the team's second SEC title over runner-up Auburn.
2009: Alabama won back-to-back SEC titles with 56 points. The Tide edged Arkansas, who scored 61 points.
Alabama's Team Championships at the Women's SEC Championships:
1986: (Knoxville, Tenn.) The Crimson Tide captured its first SEC Championship by defeating Kentucky.
1987: (Nashville, Tenn.) The Tide clinched back-to-back SEC titles by dominating the 10-team field. UA scored 20 points, while second place Kentucky finished with 70 points. UA swept honors with Evelyn Adiru finishing first in the individual championship 5k.
Alabama's Individual Men's Champions (8)
1959, `60: Robert Peete
1976: Steve Bolt
1988: German Beltran
2000, `01, `02: David Kimani
2007: Emmanuel Bor
Alabama's Individual Women's Champions (4)
1985, `87: Evelyn Adiru
1988: Carole Trepanier
1993: Becki Wells
Up Next
The Tide will travel to Tallahassee, Fla., for the NCAA South Regional Championship hosted by Florida State on Friday, Nov. 14.
Following the Tide
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaTrack on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
