JONESBORO, Ark. (8/30/2011) — The Arkansas State women's cross country team will open the season Sept. 3 ranked at No. 11 in the South Central Region the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association announced Monday.

Arkansas State finished the 2010 season ranked No. 12 following the South Central regional meet and posted their highest finish ever in the Sun Belt Conference when they finished third at the SBC Championships.   Sophomore Kristina Aubert is expected to lead the Red Wolves in 2011 after earning SBC Freshman of the Year honors a year ago.  Aubert, who will likely miss the first portion of the season while recovering from an injury suffered during last year's outdoor track season, is joined by three other runners who placed in the top 32 at the league meet.  Senior Chelsea Weaver finished 16th, senior Sydney Foreman placed 28th and junior Samantha Salinas was close behind at 32nd. 

“We are certainly excited to begin the season ranked at No. 11 in the region, but with the veterans we have returning, our goals are higher than that,” said first-year ASU head coach Jim Patchell.  “We expect to have Kristina back by the midway portion of the season and from there we hope to make a solid run at the conference championship.”

The Red Wolves get the season underway Saturday evening in Memphis at the Brooks Twilight Run. 

SOUTH CENTRAL Region

Rank, School, Location, Conference                                                                                      2010 FINAL

1 Texas, Austin, Texas, Big 12                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           1

2 Arkansas, Fayetteville, Ark., SEC

3

3 Baylor, Waco, Texas, Big 12

4

4 Rice, Houston, Texas, Conference USA

2

5 Texas A&M, College Station, Texas, Big 12

5

6 SMU, University Park, Texas, Conference USA

7

7 Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, Corpus Christi, Texas, Southland

8

8 Stephen F. Austin, Nacogdoches, Texas, Southland

6

9 Lamar, Beaumont, Texas, Southland

9

10 McNeese State, Lake Charles, La., Southland

11

11 Arkansas State, Jonesboro, Ark., Sun Belt

12

12 UTSA, San Antonio, Texas, Southland

15

13 Houston Houston, Texas, Conference USA

10

14 Nicholls State, Thibodaux, La., Southland

13

15 UT Arlington, Arlington, Texas, Southland

NR