Take a look back at the three previous SEC Championships run at Percy Warner Park
2010-11:Rhonda Riley is in her fourth season at Vanderbilt, serving as the assistant coach for the men's and women's cross country teams and distance track program.
Riley came to Nashville after serving two years at Arizona State University and one year at Oregon State University. Riley worked extensively with the women distance runners during the last three years, including All-SEC performers Rita Jorgensen and Kristabel Doebel-Hickok.
The 2009 season saw the Commodore women finish sixth at the SEC Championship, which is the highest finish ever in the 27 year history of the program, and fifth at the NCAA South Regional. Jordan White and Allie Scalf were both named to the All-SEC freshman team after placing 22nd and 30th, respectively, at the conference meet.
In the 2008 cross country season, Doebel-Hickok garnered All-SEC Freshman honors during cross country last season after placing 22nd overall with a personal best effort in the 6K at the SEC Championships. Jorgensen posted an All-Regional qualifying effort, finishing 14th overall among the 156 runners at the NCAA South Regional.
The Portland, Ore., native has played a major role in recruiting talented runners to the Music City. In her first season in Nashville, Riley brought in a highly touted class of four runners (Louise Hannallah, Alexa Rogers, Jordan White and Erin McManus). Riley made a statement on the recruiting trail when she landed the Maryland cross country Gatorade Runner of the Year in Hannallah.
In her second recruiting class, Riley was instrumental in bringing in one of the top runners in the state of Tennessee in Allie Scalf and California prep standout Kristen Findley. Both Scalf and Findley are expected to make an immediate impact to the program.
Megan Yohe, who is ranked No. 20 in the U.S. in the 3,200 meters, highlighted Riley's third recruiting class, which also includes talented runners Kara Slavoski and Liz Anderson.
In Riley's first season, Jorgensen received acknowledgement for her outstanding success as a freshman, taking home the Female Newcomer of the Year award at the Vanderbilt Black and Gold Banquet and the cross country Most Valuable Performer award. In Jorgensen's sophomore year, she dominated the early season, registering individual victories at the Belmont-VU Opener and Commodore Classic. In the same year, Val Kazmer not only performed well on the course, but also in her studies, receiving academic All-American status.
While at Arizona State, Riley was part of a successful women's distance program that placed fourth in 2005 and 13th in 2006 at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. The ASU track and field team placed third at the NCAA Indoor meet and fourth at the NCAA Outdoor meet in 2006. The Sun Devils took home the national championship at both the indoor and outdoor meets in 2007. Arizona State also captured the Pac-10 Championship in 2006 and 2007 and the 2007 MPSF Indoor Championships.
Riley has also worked with a number of NCAA individual champions, including Amy Hastings (2006 indoor 5,000-meter run) and Victoria Jackson (2006 outdoor 10,000-meter run). She also worked with Aaron Aguayo, the Pac-10's only four-time 3,000-meter steeplechase champion. During Riley's time at ASU, six distance runners combined to earn 16 All-America honors in cross country and track.
In 2004, Riley spent one year with the reinstated Oregon State program that returned after the university disbanded the team following the 1987-88 academic year. Under mentor Kelly Sullivan, Riley learned the ins and outs of collegiate coaching, including administrative duties and working with student-athletes outside of competition. Before her time at Oregon State, Riley served as a cross country and track and field volunteer coach at Corvallis High School.
Riley has participated in six marathons during her time as a student and a coach. She was the ninth female finisher at the 2003 Portland Marathon. Riley also competed in the prestigious Boston Marathon in 2007.
Riley completed her undergraduate work at Oregon State in 2004, majoring in early childhood development. She received her Master's degree in higher education while at Arizona State.
