I had a quick conversation with Arkansas Women's Coach Lance Harter as he drove into Terra Haute with his team on Thursday.  His team is ranked third by USTFCCA.org coming into the meet. (This interview is from my transcription of my interview with the coach).

Adam Schneider (AS) - How did it feel to win the South Central Region and what was your plan coming into the meet? 

Lance Harter (LH) - It always feels good to win.  Coming into that meet it was a situation where the kids and I felt we controlled our own destiny.  We used alternate racing tactics to be conservative.  We knew there were three teams vying for the other spot.  We thought, "Let’s not get caught up in the feud among the three teams."  It was a real race for the other spot.  it was very competitive between SMU and A&M. 

AS - Coming into the NCAA meet what are your thoughts and how your experience in these meets can help the team?

LH - We had seen a majority of the teams at Wisconsin.  I would like to hope that we can tap experiences from the past.  You just hope retain their confidence from their past successes and training.  We have done everything possible to prep and get ready.  The results will speak for themselves..  

AS - How is Grace Heysfield doing (she was sick coming into the South Central Regional)?

We have a really good medical team.  It took me three weeks to get over the same virus. She feels better now than in the last three weeks.  We weren’t worried about (her) individual placing. 

AS - How do you think you can beat Arizona and Providence? How do you beat the front running 1-2-3 of Providence?

LH - I think there are six or seven teams, but not with 1-2-3 of Providence. Mark (Wetmore) year in year-pout puts his teams in a competitive situation.  Florida State has international competitors. 

AS - The top men's teams, especially Oklahoma State, pack together their top five.  How come we don't see that on the Women's side.?

LH - We certainly tried to the last two competions.  I feel really good about 4-5-6-7, they are really interchangeable.  We would like to be a good pack team.  The men start thinning near the end of the race.  Our depth is definitely a major factor.

AS - There is a significant amount of water accumulation on the course.  How will that affect your team?

LH - It is a matter of how much accumulation.  We will hope it will run its course.  We had a chance to experience these conditions the hard way at Chile Pepper. This is reality, here we are.  The cold reality is here.