Atlanta, GA- After capturing the 2011 Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SIAC) women’s cross country championship, the Clark Atlanta University Lady Panthers earned their second consecutive trip to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II Regional Championships hosted by the University of Tampa Saturday, November 5th, in Tampa, Florida.
“We are definitely more focused and motivated, and we know what to expect this time around,” said team captain Nekesha Whitaker.
The Lady Panthers ran a total time of 1:46:00.48 and an average time of 21:12.10 at the conference championship which was just enough to hold off defending champion Albany State University, who finished second with a time of 1:46:20.96. Clark Atlanta, which had four of the top 10 finishers in the meet, was led by sophomore Brittany Robinson, who finished third overall with a time of 20:56.58.
Sophomore Markeisha Woodson, who is a four-time SIAC runner of the week, crossed the finish line in fifth place (21:00.05) while Ariel Lomax, Breya Davis, Comer and Whitaker all gave a valiant effort and recorded personal bests for the season. Lomax finished sixth with a time of 21:04.61, Davis rounded out the 10th spot at 21:12.28, Comer captured 12th place (21:46.96) and Whitaker came in 18th at 22:17.52.
For the regular season, Clark Atlanta swept the individual, coach and team awards as Robinson was also named East Division Runner of the Year, Head Coach Pamela Page was named East Division Coach of the Year, and the Lady Panthers were named East Division Team of the Year. Lomax, a business management major, was named to the conference All-Academic Team with a 3.80 grade point average.
“We had a hard season this year and nobody deserved this conference championship and another opportunity to run for a regional championship more than us,” said Comer.
To add to their accolades, the Lady Panthers won three of their seven regular season meets at Oglethorpe University, Morehouse College and Tuskegee University.
“This is what I expect them to do as ambassadors, students and champions,” said Director of Athletics Dr. Tamica Smith-Jones. “I am thrilled for Coach Page and her staff who have done a remarkable job winning the program’s second conference championship in three years.”
But nobody is more proud of the Lady Panthers than Page because “they all gave 110 percent on the course and exemplified the meaning of team,” she said. “Everyone will know who Clark Atlanta is after the regional championships this weekend.”
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