Women's cross country team finishes second at NCAA championship, Susan Kuijken was third after leading much of the race

Florida State star Susan Kuijken looked like she would win her first NCAA championship in cross country on Monday afternoon, providing an exclamation point to her career.

She dropped pre-race favorite Jenny Barringer of Colorado halfway through the 6K race and was on her own. But she had gone out too hard (12:49 split at the 4K) and tired in the final kilometer, fighting to hold on to a third-place finish in 19:58 that helped lead her team to all-time best finish, second.

Villanova won the women’s title (86 points), followed by FSU (133) and Washington (186). Florida was seventh.

“That was really gutsy,’’ coach Bob Braman said of Kuijken’s effort to hang on for third. “I was real, real excited for her.’’

She was second last year and third in 2007.

“And for the women to finish second in the nation, that’s an unbelievable job,’’ Braman said. “They were eighth coming in and they beat Washington, the defending champs, handily. That’s amazing. (Coach) Karen (Harvey) just did a great job.’’

Pasca Cheruiyot was 15th (20:23), followed by Amanda Winslow (33rd, 20:44), Jennifer Dunn (36th, 20:47) and Pilar McShine (46th, 21:00).

The men’s team, shooting for a Top 20 finish in the field of 31, had bad luck and a bad day. Top runners Matt Leeder and Daniel Roberts were sick and Wes Rickman was nursing a hamstring injury.

“In cross country, if it’s not your day, it’s not your day,’’ Braman said. "It's disappointing but it's hard to be disappointed in their effort.''

Leeder was 43rd in the 10K race (30:30), Roberts was 89th (31:04), Ciaran O’Lionard was 147th (31:42), Mike Fout was 151th (31:47) and Rickman was 182nd (32:26).

 

 

 

Wednesday: Live Florida State-Florida chat

Whether your allegiance is to the Gators, the Seminoles or another school altogether, join us Wednesday at noon for a live chat with Times beat reporters Antonya English and Brian Landman previewing the Florida-Florida State game. In the meantime, feel free to leave a question for our writers in the "Comments'' area below.

Florida State's Greg Reid ACC specialist of the week

Florida State freshman punt returner/cornerback Greg Reid was named the ACC specialist of the week. He received my vote, too. The other winners were Miami's Jacory Harris (offensive back), Virginia Tech's Sergio Render (offensive line), Miami's Darryl Sharpton (defensive line), Virginia Tech's Cody Grimm (defensive back) and Boston College's Luke Kuechly (rookie).

Florida State's Greg Reid, David Spurlock get my vote for ACC honors

Florida State freshman Greg Reid's 48-yard punt return in the waning moments that put his team in position for a dramatic game-winning drive got my vote as the ACC specialist of the week. I also voted for offensive lineman David Spurlock, who had a grade of 88 percent with five knockdown blocks, no penalties and no sacks allowed.

Here's my ballot for the rest of the weekly winners:

Offensive back: Clemson's C.J. Spiller (211 all-purpose yards)
Defensive lineman: Miami's Darryl Sharpton (12 tackles, returned an interception 73 yards for a touchdown)
Defensive back: Virginia Tech's Cody Grimm (8 tackles, 2 sacks, Division I-A tying 3 forced fumbles in a game)
Rookie: Virginia Tech's Ryan Williams (120 yards, 4 touchdowns)

Florida State Seminoles Susan Kuijken looks for a title for herself, team at Monday's NCAA women's cross country championship; men's team shooting for Top 20 finish

There’s not a lot Florida State standout Susan Kuijken hasn’t accomplished during her four-year career.

Except for one thing – a cross country national title.

Oh, she’s come close, finishing third in 2007 and second last year by just seven seconds to three-time NCAA champ Sally Kipyego. So this season, for her, has been all about being at her best when it counted the most – at Monday’s NCAA finale in Terre Haute, Ind. She’s raced just twice this season, at the Pre-national meet  on the NCAA course (she finished second) and then at the ACC championships (she won), looking to be strong and fresh for the 6K race.
 
“I real really good,’’ she said.

She’s has to be to run down pre-race favorite, Colorado’s Jenny Barringer, who at one time seemed likely to sign with FSU out of high school and this season has raced into a new stratosphere. She beat Kuijken at the Pre-national meet by about 32 seconds, although Kuijken’s strategy was to stay with her teammates and not with Barringer.

“It’s going to be tough, of course,’’ Kuijken said of beating Barringer. “I just hope to stay with her and see who’s the strongest on the home stretch.’’

“Susan is so much better than last year and she needs to be,’’ FSU coach Karen Harvey said. “Her sword is as sharp as it can be … She has done everything right leading up to this race. That’s all you can ask for. It’s going to be so exciting and fun to watch her run to her potential.’’

Kuijken also has an eye on a team title after back-to-back third-place finishes and, if everyone is healthy and has a good day, that wouldn’t be a huge shocker. In addition to Kuijken, Pilar McShine and Pasca Cheruiyot are running well as are Jennifer Dunn, Jessica Parry and Amanda Wilson.

“This team is fitter and faster than the team last year,’’ Harvey said. “We’re ready.’’

The FSU men, back on this stage for the seventh straight year, haven’t been better than 17th (in 2004) in that time but sure look like a team capable of doing that despite its relative youth.

Junior Matt Leeder (89th in last year’s NCAA), senior Daniel Roberts (66th) and junior Ciaran O’Lionard (68th) all could be in the top 40 and earn all-America honors. Wes Rickman, the ACC freshman of the year, has been strong all year, while junior Justin Harbor looks to be back from knee surgery he had in late August and oft-injured sophomore Mike Fout has won a state title on this course.

“Of all the years we’ve had teams make it, the training of this group has been fantastic,’’ coach Bob Braman said. “I think we’re peaking right. … Top 20 is reasonable and, if we could be Top 15, it would be really special.’’

Versus is broadcasting the races live.

Bobby Bowden and Steve Spurrier one more time?

With Florida State now bowl eligible after Saturday’s dramatic 29-26 win against Maryland, you can’t help but imagine the possibility that Bowden could face his old rival, Steve Spurrier, if the Music City Bowl were to pair FSU against South Carolina.

Joked coach Bobby Bowden: “I could relax a lot better at the bowl if he ain’t there. I’d relax a lot better if Steve ain’t there.’’

Update on Florida State's search for a new defensive coordinator

When Florida State coach Bobby Bowden interviewed Mickey Andrews 26 years ago, they met up at a Tallahassee fast-food restaurant and had cheeseburgers. You can bet the next defensive coordinator won’t be feted at McDonald’s nor will it just be Bowden, despite continued Internet rumors to the contrary.

“It’ll be more of a we; it’ll be more of me and Jimbo,’’ Bowden said of his anointed heir, Jimbo Fisher, contributing mightily to the search.

As for a timetable, Bowden said he would “imagine we’ll start doing it soon,’’ but don’t expect any real progress until after the regular season ends.

“It’s not something I believe in rushing into,’’ he said. “What you do is going to last for years. You’ve got to take your time with it.’’

Rumors are also swirling around the future of the current assistants. Bowden politely ducked that one, saying he really doesn’t know what a new coordinator will want to do (or if he continues to coach a segment) and there is “no sense me talking, speculating on something I’m not sure’’ about.

Florida State unveils new Nike uniforms

Don't adjust your television set.

That is Florida State you're watching and not Texas Tech.

FSU is wearing Nike Pro-Combat uniforms – one of 10 schools selected to test drive the new, lightweight design – as well a new black helmet. The Seminoles have worn a helmet with a base color other than gold only once, at the 1968 Peach Bowl when they had a garnet-based helmet with a white stripe and FS in white, block letters on the side. FSU plans to keep the uniforms and may use them again. It will incorporate the lightweight technology, however, into their traditional uniforms next season.

I find the timing odd. On a day FSU is honoring retiring defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews, the school wears uniforms that don't look anything at all like FSU.(FUll disclosure -- I'm a traditionist who still doesn't like the idea of a designated hitter in baseball.) What do you think?

Florida State soccer pulls out 2-1 win in double OT

Florida State’s Jessica Price skillfully out maneuvered three Texas A&M defenders to score a golden goal in the final moments of the second overtime Friday for a dramatic 2-1 win in the third round of the NCAA Tournament.

“It’s an indescribable, amazing feeling,’’ the redshirt sophomore forward said.

With the win, the Seminoles (19-4-1), a No. 1 seed, advances to the NCAA quarterfinals for the fifth straight year and will face Notre Dame next week, almost certainly here in Tallahassee on Friday.  Notre Dame beat the visiting Seminoles in last year’s quarterfinals.

FSU is 18-0-0 at home in the NCAA Tournament, but that streak looked in jeopardy. FSU lost star playmaking midfielder Amanda DaCosta to a knee injury and the defensive-minded Aggies (15-7-3) took a 1-0 early in the second half. Even after FSU senior midfielder Lauren Switzer tied it 10 minutes later, the game seemed headed to a penalty-kick shootout.

FSU coach Mark Krikorian had told his players after regulation and after the first 10-minute overtime that it was only going to take one moment to pull out the win.

“Great players make great plays,’’ he said.

Price proved that with an assist from sophomore forward Tiffany McCarty, who fed her the ball on the right wing. She then patiently weaved across the box, leaving one defender after another behind, and knocked in a shot from about 4 yards out.

“I wasn’t really focused on them, I was just focused on getting my chance on goal and just taking my time and putting it away,’’ said Price, who now has four goals in this year’s tournament and 16 overall.

McCarty was watching, thinking her teammate would shoot sooner only to see her continue to work for a better angle and the game-winner with 2:01 left.

“Oh my gosh, Jess, Jess, Jess,’’ she said. “Then she put it away; I could have passed out. I was so happy.’’

“It was heartbreaking blow because we feel we would have won penalties; we’re a pretty good team in penalty kicks,’’ said A&M coach G Guerrieri. His team beat LSU in the second round on PKs. “The winning goal was a terrific counterattack by them and great individual effort to get into some tough spaces and then to be able to spin our players and a quality finish by Price.’’
 

Florida State quarterback Christian Ponder has successful shoulder surgery

Florida State star quarterback Christian Ponder had successful surgery on his right shoulder Friday, the school said, and should be able to have "limited, non-contact participation in spring football.''

Ponder, who was enjoying a breakout season in his second year as the Seminoles' starter, injured his throwing shoulder in the waning moments of the game at Clemson as he tackled a Tiger defender who was returning an interception.