Nov. 4, 2011
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -
The Southeastern Conference named Vanderbilt's head coach Steve Keith the SEC cross country Coach of the Year today after his team's impressive finish at the conference meet this past weekend.
Keith, a Vanderbilt alum, is in his sixth year as head coach. Since he took over the program, the women's team has improved from an 8th place finish to winning their first-ever SEC title with a mere 30 points. This is his first time named SEC Coach of the Year, as well as the first time Vanderbilt has had a cross country coach presented the title.
"It's a nice honor, it's a nice honor for our staff, for our team," said Keith. "I joke about, wake me up on Thanksgiving and tell me it all really happened. It's a new level for the women and for the program and the team. I'm 100% a believer that these women can achieve whatever they set their minds to."
"He's already ecstatic," said assistant coach Rhonda Riley. "He's really proud of this team and to be named SEC Coach of the Year is one that I know he'll hold on to. When I first got here, we both saw potential in this team, and knew we could be a really strong contender in the SEC, if not on the national level. He knew that it was going to take time but he wanted to do it the right way and that's just year after year, and that's just getting recruits and having the kids believe."
Keith has steadily built the program up with a foresight and dedication that has brought the team from eighth to sixth to third to first in the SEC. In fact, eight of his runners were named to the All-SEC first, second, and All-Freshmen teams in a year where they have broken record upon record.
"It's been a nice steady progress and the girls have bought into it each year more and more. They've developed, they've worked hard, they've changed their attitude approaching the conference meet from four or five years ago completely. They're no longer afraid of the conference meet, they are anxiously awaiting every conference meet, which is the kind of culture we want to have."
Runner's awards
Women's First-Team All-SEC
Kristen Gillespie, Arkansas
Alexa Rogers, Vanderbilt
Genevieve LaCaze, Florida
Liz Anderson, Vanderbilt
Cory McGee, Florida
Kristie Krueger, Georgia
Jordan White, Vanderbilt
Women's Second-Team All-SEC
Louise Hannallah, Vanderbilt
Kristen Smith, Vanderbilt
Florence N'Getich, Florida
Logan Waites, Ole Miss
Brittany Sheffey, Tennessee
Kaitlin Flattman, Arkansas
Jessica Jackson, Arkansas
Women's All-SEC Freshman Team
Kaitlin Flattmann, Arkansas
Jessica Jackson, Arkansas
Grace Orders, Vanderbilt
Amira Joseph, Vanderbilt
Anna Bowles, Georgia
Rebecca Chandler, Vanderbilt
Grace Vandegrift, Florida
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