Oct. 23, 2006

Head track & field and cross country coach Todd Harbour sat down for a question and answer session, as the cross country teams prepare to run at the Big 12 Championships Friday, Oct. 27, in Lawrence, Kan.

How does the women's team look heading into the Big 12 Championships?

Harbour: It's just been one of those seasons, where we've been learning a lot about battling and perseverance. A lot of young girls have had to do some growing up fast. Even though we'll be without our No. 1 (Brittany Brockman) and our No. 2 (Erin Bedell), we still have high hopes to finish this season on a good note. The girls have had great attitudes and still believe we have a lot of great things to accomplish.

Who has stepped up during Brittany Brockman and Erin Bedell's absence?

Harbour: Lyndsy Bedell epitomizes what this sport is all about. She didn't have the year she wanted to last year, but she came back determined to step up and worked extremely hard to get to where she is now. At Chile Pepper, it was her first time to be our No. 1 and it was a big PR. She has become the captain and leader we knew she could be, so I'm going to put a lot on her the next couple of weeks.

What are looking for out of the team in the postseason?

Harbour: Monique Ortega has really stepped up and the other seniors, Brittany McGuire and Ruth Waller, should be able to run faster. This team should still be in good shape to make the NCAAs and have a good showing, maybe even as good as last year. To be able to do that would be a good accomplishment for this group. Lauren Hagans has been consistent but she was sick at Chile Pepper. She's battled back, because we need leadership. Nichole Jones has done a great job, and to be doing the things she is doing as a freshman is amazing.

You had great expectations for this season, with the setbacks you've encountered, do you now have to carry those expectations over to next year?

Harbour: That's (injuries and illness) just the nature of the sport. Our No. 1 job is to keep them healthy. Erin went to China and we don't know if she got mono when she was over there or if she got it when she came back, but it was just a long year for her. She wanted to compete against the best in the world, so we wouldn't have done anything differently. Brittany's injury was in a tough spot to heal quickly, but she back running again. Erin will come back and likely run the rest of her career with this year's freshman class, which is exciting. In addition to Nichole, Danielle Bradley, Loren Hodges and Renae VanWhye have had great starts to their careers.

How does the men's team look going into the Big 12 Championships?

Harbour: They're similar to the ladies, in the fact that they've had to battle adversity, with Bo (Price) getting hit by a car and Cody (Wells) having a knee injury. They've worked so hard to get where they're at, they've worked harder than any group we've ever had. They really have a chip on their shoulder after last year (12th place at conference championships). We have two of the four seniors who redshirted back healthy. Rob has had an outstanding year and Bo proved he is back after leading the guys at Pre-Nats last week. Jacob Jones has become a great runner, Rey Hinojosa is kind of that "blue collar" guy, who just works so hard, and it's been outstanding to see Ben Haby step up as a freshman.

How did the team react to Bo Price's injury, being struck by a car and then returning a little over a month later?

Harbour: It's definitely an inspiration, for him to come back shows how much of a tough, young man he is. The men have all kinds of nicks and nagging things, but they have learned to suck it up and go.

What do you expect out of the championships?

Harbour: On the men's side, the conference is as tough as any in the country, so to make the top seven would be outstanding. The women are not quite as strong. Texas Tech is running well and Colorado is always the favorite. I put us in there with Oklahoma State, Missouri and possibly Texas A&M. People may say it's a little down this year (on the women's side), but it's still a good, solid conference. We're excited and ready to go.

This is the last year you will host the NCAA Regional, has that home-field advantage helped you the last four years?

Harbour: It was nice to have it at home, but it's a good time to change. Cottonwood is a great course and everyone loves coming and running there, and they've been good to us. It will be a nice change of pace to not have to worry about all of the duties that go along with hosting, though. The team loves traveling and running in other places, and Arkansas always does a great with these events.