Lady Vols hope it all adds up

Someone leaves, someone else arrives. That's the mathematics of college sports.

In the case of Tennessee's women's cross-country program, coach J.J. Clark hopes the addition outweighs the subtraction.

Rose-Anne Galligan and Kelly Parrish, two members of last year's freshman class, did not return to school this fall.

Galligan had the more promising freshman results of the two, but was homesick for her native Ireland.

"You never want to see anybody go,'' said Clark, "but I want everybody to be happy and want to be here.''

Two new arrivals with impressive credentials fill in the blanks.

Heidi Magill-Dahl's credentials include two seasons at Brigham Young University and a 39th-place finish at the 2005 NCAA meet. She didn't run cross-country last fall.

Brittany Sheffey is a freshman from Bellport, N.Y., with some notable prep times, both on the track and off it.

"I've never seen a good miler not be able to run cross-country,'' said Clark.

Magill-Dahl, who is from Utah, recently got married. Her husband is from the Knoxville area and is attending medical school at East Tennessee State.

"We just got fortunate,'' Clark said. "I had recruited her out of high school but I haven't coached her yet so I really don't know where she is (conditioning-wise).''

In any case, Magill-Dahl projects to be a scorer for the Lady Vols, joining veterans Sarah Bowman, Katie Van Horn and Jackie Areson.

"We have to figure out that last spot,'' Clark said.

The candidates include Sheffey and Leah Soro, who has scored at a number of meets the past two years.

Rolanda Bell showed progress last year and Clark isn't ruling out Kimarra McDonald or Phoebe Wright.

Bowman's goal for her junior season is consistency rather than up-and-down results. Van Horn is coming back from an injury.

Mike Strange may be reached at 865-342-6276.