Padilla [Click to enlarge]

Kane [Click to enlarge]

Seeking their first conference titles since 1996, The University of West Florida men's and women's cross country squads will participate in the 2005 Gulf South Conference Championships this Saturday at Plough Park in Memphis, Tenn. The men's 8K race will begin at 9 a.m. followed by the women's 5K run at 10 a.m.

The men's squad has had a solid regular season. The Argonauts defeated Belhaven and Spring Hill in duel meets while winning the team title at the Argonaut Invitational and the Blazer Classic. West Florida also posted a second place finish at the UAH Invitational, and a fourth place showing at the South Pre-Regional. Only one Division II team, Clayton State, finished higher than West Florida in their six races this season.

"We have finished second to Harding in three of the last five years and it is getting old," said West Florida men's and women's head coach Matt Dobson. "We have made progress at each of the last three conference championships and we will challenge them again this year."

Junior Michael Padilla leads the Argonauts. He has won four races and finished third overall in the other two meets. Padilla broke his own 8K school record by 12 seconds with a time of 24:40 at the Blazer Classic. Padilla was the highest Argonaut finisher in fifth place at last year's GSC Championships, and Dobson expects Padilla to challenge for the individual championship this year.

Senior Caleb Carmichael has finished in the top ten in all six races this season, including four second place finishes. Carmichael set a personal best 8K time of 25:37 at the Blazer Classic. He finished seventh overall at last year's GSC Championships.

Joining Padilla and Carmichael at the GSC Championships will be Dan Bauer, Justin Dickieson, Brian Gowin, Craig Henry, and Sam Ishee. West Florida finished second to Harding at last year's GSC Championships in Huntsville, Ala. Harding has won the last three conference championships. The Argonauts have won the GSC Championship twice, in 1994 and 1996.

The women's team enters the race ranked 20th in the NCAA Division II. West Florida won duel meets over Belhaven and Valdosta State as well as a tri-meet against Spring Hill and Montevallo. The Argonauts captured the Blazer Classic Title, and finished second at both the UAH Invitational and the South Region Pre-Regional. "Alabama-Huntsville and Harding are in a class by themselves, but we are a much improved team from last year," said Dobson. "Our veterans are in better shape this year, and our freshman class has given us new life and spark."

Sophomore Dawn Kane leads the Argonauts women's squad with two first places finishes and three top 10 finishes. Kane ran a personal best time of 19:37 as she finished second at the Blazer Classic. Last year Kane placed 33rd overall at the GSC Championships and was the second-highest Argonaut finisher.

Freshman Nicole Stanley has put together a solid freshman campaign with five top 10 finishes, including a second place finish at the Argonaut Invitational. Stanley also placed third in the dual meet against Belhaven, and posted two fourth-place finishes at the Blazer Classic and in the tri-meet against Montevallo and Spring Hill.

Kane and Stanley will be joined Naomi Evangelista, Lindsay Failing, Kim Gallagher, Margaret Harter, and Diana Sitar. West Florida finished eighth at last year's GSC Championships. Alabama-Huntsville won their second consecutive conference title last year. Either Alabama-Huntsville or Harding has won the GSC Championship every year since 1999. The Argonauts won their only conference championship in 1996.

The top ten finishers will be automatically named members of the All-GSC First Team. Those runners finishing in 11th through 20th place will earn Second Team honors.

Article Tools