2006 Azalea City Classic Entry List
The University of South Alabama cross country teams are set to begin the 2006 season as they host the 34th Annual Azalea City Classic in Mobile, Ala. Middle school and junior varsity races are scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. on Friday. High school varsity races will begin at 7:30 a.m. Saturday morning and the collegiate races start at 8:30 a.m. The Jaguars swept the men's and women's team competitions last year.
SEASON OUTLOOK (WOMEN'S TEAM)
"Our women's team is small this season," head coach Lee Evans said, "But they work hard and they will give everything they have every weekend."
At the Sun Belt Conference Championship last season, the Lady Jags moved up to eighth place from 10th in 2004. They lose their number one and two finishers from last year. Junior Ajoke Odumosu (29th in 2005) will more than likely sit out the cross country season after a long summer that included finishing fifth in the 400m hurdles and second in the 4x400m relay at the World Junior Track and Field Championships in August. Yvonne Li (41st) was a senior last season.
Leading the charge this year will be sophomore Jessica Miller (43rd), juniors Cassandra Perkins (48th) and Melissa Womble (64) and senior Lauren Lemon (51), all of whom set personal best marks in all cross country distances in 2005.
Miller ran through a late season injury last year, but looks to be good form. The indoor and outdoor conference champion at 800m posted a best of 19:36 for 5K at Auburn. The Maldonado, Uruguay native was fourth at the 2005 Azalea City Classic, her first-ever cross country race.
Leading the Jags with three top-20 finishes, Perkins dropped nearly three minutes from her 5K time in 2005. Her 18:39 is the fastest p.r. of the returning Lady Jags.
Lemon bettered her 5K time four times last season. The Mobile, Ala. native is the most consistent Lady Jag, staying in the low 20 minute range in every 3.1mile event.
The Falls Church, Va. native, Womble, set a personal best in three races last season. With Odumosu and Li gone, Womble looks to become the all-important fifth finisher for the Lady Jags.
New this season are French national Clarisse Moh and Californian Darryllisha Burch. Moh was the leading Lady Jag at 800m (2:09.10) and second in the 400m (54.60) during the outdoor season. If she can duplicate her success in the fall, she will give the Lady Jags a chance to improve their standing again this year. Burch, from Santa Monica College, ran both 400m and 800m in the spring and could provide much-needed depth to the team.
