Not among elite, UA teams in hunt

FAYETTEVILLE — The Kentucky Derby is nearly six months away, but Louisville, Ky., will be the site of some serious running today.

But it will be of the twolegged variety. The hometown of the world’s most famous horse race will host the NCAA Cross Country Championships.

Instead of running for the roses at Churchill Downs, the top men’s and women’s teams from across the country — including the Arkansas Razorbacks — will compete for national titles at Sawyer Park.

The women’s 6,000-meter race begins at 8 a.m. followed by the men’s 10,000 at 9 a.m.

The No. 6-ranked Razorbacks women’s team and No. 15 men’s team aren’t among the favorites to win, but their coaches hope to be in position to contend.

The top three women’s teams are No. 1 Colorado, No. 2 San Francisco and No. 3 New Mexico.

The Arkansas women’s team, which won SEC and NCAA South Central Regional titles, is led by sophomore Taylor Werner and seniors Nikki Hiltz and Therese Haiss.

“We’d be a longshot, but I’ll take it,” said Lance Harter,

coach of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville’s women’s team. “Our kids are running with a lot of confidence right now.”

The Arkansas men’s team, which also swept SEC and NCAA South Central Regional titles, will be led by seniors Alex George, Jack Bruce and Austen Dalquist.

Defending champion Northern Arizona is ranked No. 1, with BYU No. 2 and Syracuse No. 3.

“I do feel like after seeing us compete at the SEC meet and regionals and what I’ve seen in practice that our guys are ready,” Arkansas men’s Coach Chris Bucknam said. “Anything can happen. We’re in the mix.

“I’ve got an unbelievably dedicated group of athletes that have put in a tremendous amount of work. They’re great competitors. It’s just a question of having five guys put it together on the same day.”