The University of Memphis women's cross country finished their 2005 season with a record-setting performance at the South Regional Championships in Gainesville, Fla.
The U of M placed 11th out of 24 teams to earn the highest-ever team finish in school history.
"I was really excited," said coach Jonas Holdeman. "We were missing our number two runner from last year, but our new freshmen really stepped up and made a commitment to train at the college level."
Solid performances by the freshman class and junior Daniele Riendeau helped the Tigers finish a full 10 places better than last season's 21st place finish.
"Hard work from everyone and a lot of new talent helped this year," Riendeau said. "We made a commitment to work hard at the beginning of the season."
Hard work led to Riendeau finishing with a with a team and school-best time of 21:36. The record time helped Riendeau place 21st, the highest-ever showing for a Lady Tiger and the first All-Region performer for women's cross country.
"It felt really good to get All-Region," Riendeau said. "I wasn't expecting it, but I was happy to get it. We did do good this year, but I know we can do better."
Trailing Riendeau in the meet was freshman Emily Malinowski, who finished second among Lady Tiger runners with a time of 22:03.
"Coach trained us to peak at that meet," Malinowski said. "He told us that we could compete with the best."
Malinowski's time marked her personal best and marked the seventh time in eight meets that she has set a personal record.
"We were really focused this year," Malinowski said. "It shows hard work and training pays off."
That kind of hard work and a solid recruiting class is what has largely led to this year's turn-around.
"This freshman class is an example for when athletes set an example for what others want to be apart of," Holdeman said. "I'm just a navigator. I owe it all of this to the girls."
Freshmen Meghan Shinkwin and Carolyn Corbett also contributed to the Tigers record- setting performance by setting personal best times of 23:32 and 23:39, respectively.
Shinkwin finished 98th while Corbett crossed the finish line in 104th place.
"It was great to see freshman girls run so well when they are only used to running 40 minutes at a time (in high school)," Holdeman said. "They set personal bests and they were enormous."
While The U of M concluded this year's cross country season at the championship race, last weekend's performance said a lot about what is to come, Holdeman said.
"Success is absolutely critical," he said. "Attaining a high level and maintaining that level is great for the program.
"We beat teams like Alabama, Auburn and Miami. For us to beat teams like that is great because we want to go to nationals on the biggest stage," Holdeman said.
For The U of M to be able to compete at that level is simple, Holdeman said.
According to Holdeman, it's as simple as putting on a pair of shoes.
"The hardest thing for a runner is putting on your shoes and getting out the door," Holdeman said. "Running, like any colligiate sport, is the greatest life lesson. What you do today affects tomorrow."
