It's a 'Rocky Top' season for Flaute, Tennessee teammates

The chant comes near the finish line, a sure sign that the University of Tennessee women's cross country team has accomplished its mission.

"Rocky Top, you'll always be/Home sweet home to me/Good ol' Rocky Top/Rocky Top, Tennessee."

Katie Flaute and her teammates sing the Vols' anthem passionately.

"I knew the words before I came here," the 2002 Carroll graduate said. "My brother Kevin gave me the lyrics as a graduation present. Singing it after a big win makes you feel good. I love it down here in Knoxville."

Flaute, a junior, is enjoying a breakout season for the nationally ranked Vols. She earned Southeastern Conference Cross Country Runner of the Week honors after she finished ninth out of 310 runners in the Paul Short Run on Oct. 1. The distance dynamo clocked 20:53 over 6,000 meters. It was her third straight personal-record performance. She hopes to help 18th-ranked Tennessee to its third consecutive SEC title and another trip to the NCAA Championships.

"I'm running with more confidence and my times are 30 seconds faster than they were a year ago at the same time," said Flaute, who carries a 3.92 GPA in exercise science. "I rely on my stamina more than speed. I'm pretty strong in the middle of my races and I can run aggressively when I need to."

A highlight of the Vols' season always comes when they compete against the tradition-rich Arkansas cross country team. The Vols have outdistanced Arkansas the last two years under coach J.J. Clark and silenced the Razorbacks' own victory chant, "Whoo, pig! Sooey!"

"We don't like each other," said Flaute. "It's always a spirited meet with them."

After claiming the SEC title, members of the Big Orange Pack (they wear bright orange singlets) received a special invitation to a picnic at Pat Summitt's home. Summitt is the legendary coach of the Vols' women's basketball team.

"Coach Summitt sets the standard here with what she has accomplished and is an inspiration to every athlete," Flaute said. "She honored all five of our SEC championship teams (cross country, track, volleyball, soccer and women's basketball) at her house and it was really an exciting day."

Quick hitters

• Junior midfielder Karen Beers (Bellbrook) has set the Otterbein career goal-scoring record.

"My two most memorable goals came against Denison my freshman year when I hit the game-winner in double overtime, and then in last year's OAC tournament, I scored the game-winner against Capital that put us in the national tournament," Beers said. "I have an attack mentality and I'm very competitive."

Beers broke the Otterbein record with a pair of goals in a 5-0 victory over Baldwin-Wallace last Saturday. She has 31 career goals.

• Tennessee volleyball player Chelsea Noble (Vandalia) registered 17 digs against No. 5-ranked Florida last week. Noble has excelled as a defensive specialist/libero.