University of Florida - Tower Yearbook / Seminole Yearbook

“RUNNERS FINISH SECOND IN SEC UF Photo Services UF Photo Services Photo Services UF Photo Services The Florida Gator men ' s cross country team got off to a slow start, but came back fighting to earn second place in the SEC. Senior co-captain Mark Sheehan led the team to victory in the Florida Invitational meet, which gave the Gators the state title. Sheehan ran the five-mile course in 24:49.2, an improvement of 57 seconds over his time last season. UF finished seventh in a field of 62 teams in the NCAA District III meet, an improvement over the 13th place finish the year before. a fourth place finish was necessary to qualify for the NCAA National meet. All-American junior Keith Brantly from a foot injury earlier in the year and ran the 10,000 meter course in 29:34. Brantly was the first American to finish the race and qualified for the NCAA meet in Bloomington, Ind. He 42nd in that meet and was the 26th American finisher. Brantly finished third in the SEC meet and was pleased with his performance. " That was the best meet of the season for me. I was happy with the way I ran, " Brantly said. Brantly says the key for him is concentration. " I just concentrate on what I have to do, and do my best to do it. " Head Coach John Randolph says is a determined runner who " leads by example. " Randolph was pleased by the progress of his team over last year. " I think we put our cross country program back near the top of the SEC, " he said. Todd Sinclair, Bill Irvine, Jack Burton, Bart Sellers, Brendan McGarry, and Ray Wunderlich rounded out the squad. The Lady Gator runners also proved competitive as well. For the first time in Florida history the squad featured an All- American, Beth Farmer. Farmer finished 1 1 th at the NCAA finals with a time of 17:22.3. She earned her way to the finals as a result of her 13th place finish at the district meet in Greenville, S.C. Under the direction of Carol Slowik and Lyle Knudson the team used the training and competitive method, between 50 and 90 miles a week. The Lady Gators finished second the Tennessee Volunteers in the SEC district meet. Other members of the cross country team were Sally Thomas, Gina Procaccio, Donna Campbell, Beth Adkins and Laura Shey. UF SEC CROSS COUNTRY RUNNER-UPS. Front Row: Kelvin Henry (trainer), Brendan McGarry, Mark Sheehan, Keith Brantly, Todd Sinclair John Randolph (coach). Back Row: Roger Sutton, Randy Adams, David Strahl, Bart Sellers, Ray Wunderlich. Cross country runners Beth Farmer and Keith Brantly were named All-American. Senior co-captain Mark Sheehan shows the effects of a cross country hike. UF Photo Services The FTC, SFCC, and the UF team began the season with a triangular meet in Gainesville. 77 ”