By Brian Miller, Special to Flotrack

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — One point was all that separated the NCAA South Region's top-ranked team Florida State women's cross country team and upstart Vanderbilt.

 

But it was the Commodores that left Apalachee Regional Park on Friday as the region's champion, using a sixth-place finish by Claire Benjamin and depth to outduel two-time region champion Colleen Quigley and the Seminoles. Vanderbilt had been runner-up to FSU the last three years, and it wasn't even close.

 

"Obviously, the goal is to get to nationals, but it is a race and the women really wanted to go for it today," Vanderbilt coach Steve Keith said. "No better way to practice what you want to do for nationals than to do it today. It means a lot to us. Florida State has done so well for over the years, for us to get to that level is a real honor."

 

Quigley won in 19:17 in the 6k race, slipping ahead of Tennessee's Chelsea Blaase (19:26) in the final mile. Seminoles junior Pippa Woolven was fifth and senior Linden Hall seventh, but Benjamin crossed in between in 19:53, setting up 9-10 and 13-14 finishes from the Commodores' interchangeable top five to sneak out a win.

 

"It's a lesson for everyone to say, 'That one person I got or that one person I held up, helped us win (by a point).' That's cross country," Keith said. "I think Claire is our fourth different No. 1 runner this year. Our team is defined by not having any definition."

 

On the men's side, their 10k race benefited from a one hour later start time with winds dropping from the 11 mph the women faced in the initial downhill stretch. But the 40 degree temperatures didn't bother Auburn senior Ty McCormack, who rolled to victory in 30:08 after finishing third last season.

 

"I tried to take it pretty relaxed and gear up for nationals, but unfortunately it doesn't look like our team made it," said McCormack, who team finished third behind region winner Mississippi and runner-up Florida State. He said he ran 85 percent effort.

 

Seminoles senior Tyler Udland, a Princeton transfer, came in second in 30:17, while teammate Jack Goodwin was sixth, but the Rebels pushed to the top of the podium with a 3-4-5 finish. Wes Gallagher was first, followed by Sean Tobin and Robert Domanic.

 

"The whole mentality we talked about last night was about the team," Gallagher said. "Don't think about nationals individually. Run as a pack, run as a team, really work together."

 

While FSU settled for runner-up, it was a relief to make it to NCAAs after ending a streak of 10 straight years last year, especially since No. 1 runner Glen Yarham was out with a foot injury and fifth runner Stanley Linton missed the ACC Championships with the flu. The Seminoles felt good for an at-large berth even if they'd finished third or fourth, since they had plenty of points, but second was a nice bonus.

 

"You don't want to limp in— no pun intended since our No. 1 was out— to the national meet," FSU coach Bob Braman said. "You want to run well on your home course. You're not going to just flip a switch at the national meet. You need to have a little momentum going forward and that's where we are."

 

McCormack, who looked strong the entire way through, heads to Terre Haute in hopes of a top 15 finish. He was 40th a year ago, and though his times are faster, he's still having fun with the enjoyment of reaching the season's climax. 

 

"I had three goals last year: Eat the most food at the banquet, get a girl's number, and to get All-American," McCormack deadpanned. "I got two out of three, but I didn't get a girl's number. Maybe this year will be the lucky year."