UCAFANS.COM | GO UCA BEARS!

Last year was a work in progress with a team loaded with freshmen. When high school girls move up to college they have to learn a new race as the 5000m (5k) is the max distance most states allow in high school (Oklahoma still runs only 2 miles). College women run 6000m which does not sound like a lot but the extra 20% adds a new dimension that the natural milers have to adapt to. In high school a fast half miler can sneak into a good 5k but rarely in college do they conquer the 6k so easily. The 6k has been a challenge to many good high school milers.

If the SugarBears return their youngsters from last fall they will bring back lots more experience. Returners should include:

JR Heather Esettter (FS Northside) - 45th at SLC with time of 23:05
SO Courtney Efurd (Rogers) - 46th at SLC with 23:11
SO Dacey Mitchell (West Plains, MO) - 57th at SLC with 23:48
SO Sabrina Peterman (West Plains, MO) - 62nd at SLC with 24:02

It would not be unheard for this group to drop a minute each and they need to get into the 22s to really start to be a factor as a team. Estetter was a humdinger of a 400m/800m runner in high school who excelled on relays with really top speed. She has lengthened her distance in college and ran pretty well last fall for 6k. Efurd is an all-purpose middle distance runner who has potential for 6k well beyond her freshman time. Still, she was 2nd on the team without being healthy. Mitchell and Peterman come from the exceptional West Plains program and know how to run. Barring injuries, these four could be 10 spots+ each better at SLC this fall.

New freshman on the roster include:

Erica Setzler ( Conway)
Kayla Nehus (Mount St Mary's)

Kayla had the 17th best 5K time last year in Arkansas Girls CC which was the best year ever for Arkansas Girls at the 5k distance. Her 19:49 is about a 23:45 pace for 6k which would be a good mark for her first year.

Erica could really be a factor. She was ranked #1 last fall in Arkansas with a fine 18:23 for 5k. She runs a good mile and two mile but seems to be better suited for the longer races...that is good news for running the 6k. Her high school time would be about a 22:10 for 6k which would be terrific for a freshman.

There are other returners who ran at SLC and the roster shows Jenna Siebenmorgen, a transfer for Arkansas Tech, who about Top 40 last year at the Gulf South meet.

If we can get some movement up in the SLC finish from the Top 4 from last fall and have Setzler contribute well, they could score in the 150-160 point range which should put them in the top half, a big accomplishment for a young team. Anything better would be a big statement. There should be some very tough competition for the 4th-7th spot on the team that runs at SLC and that always helps the team overall.

Widener, Setzler Named Southland Cross Country Athletes of the Week




Congrats!