University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Finish Seventh at SEC Cross Country Championships
October 30, 2000 | Cross Country
 |
TUSCALOOSA, Ala.--Tennessee's cross country squad finished seventh at the Southeastern Conference Championships on Monday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Volunteers scored 163 points in the 8K race at the Harry Pritchett Golf Course. Arkansas took the team title with 27 points. Alabama's David Kimani won the individual title by running the course in 24:19.03.
"Our inexperience and youth made for a difficult day," head coach George Watts said. "Marcus (Tanner) did a great job by making All-SEC for the first time. He ran right in there with some pretty good runners. It will help with his confidence in track."
As Watts mentioned, Marcus Tanner led the Tennessee contingent with a 12th-place, 25:40.47 finish. The effort was good enough for inclusion on the All-SEC team. Tanner's time stands 34 seconds faster than his previous season-best mark. Alabama's David Kimani captured individual honors with a time of 24:19.03.
Farragut native Eric Bell placed 25th in 26:39.32. Keith Kimmons finished 41st by covering the course in 27:17.54. Vince Dressel broke the tape in 27:24.37 to stand 44th. Clay Wiggins rounded out the Vol scorers by finishing 45th in 27:29.54. The spread between Tennessee's top five finishers was 1:49.07, the Vols' widest spread of the year.
Tennessee's non-scorers were led by Rob Cloutier at 51st. Cloutier sustained an injury during the race, but finished in 27:56.32. Paul Hallman clocked in at 28:40.91 to earn 60th. Scott Defilippis was injured during the race and could not finish.
Tennessee returns to action at the NCAA South Regionals on Nov. 11 in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The race will be held on the same course as the SEC Championships. The Volunteers will probably need to finish in the top two at the South Regionals to advance to the NCAA Championships on Nov. 20 in Ames, Iowa.
| TEAM FINISHES | |
|
1. Arkansas |
27 |
|
2. Alabama |
43 |
|
3. Florida |
98 |
|
4. LSU |
115 |
|
5. Auburn |
134 |
|
6. Georgia |
162 |
|
7. Tennessee |
163 |
|
8. Mississippi |
174 |
|
9. Kentucky |
245 |
|
10. Vanderbilt |
292 |
| TENNESSEE INDIVIDUAL FINISHES | |
|
12. Marcus Tanner, Tenn. |
25:40.47 |
|
25. Eric Bell, Tenn. |
26:39.32 |
|
41. Keith Kimmons, Tenn. |
27:17.54 |
|
44. Vince Dressel, Tenn. |
27:24.37 |
|
45. Clay Wiggins, Tenn. |
27:29.54 |
|
51. Rob Cloutier, Tenn. |
27:56.32 |
|
60. Paul Hallman, Tenn. |
28:40.91 |
| *Did not finish because of injury -- Scott Defilippis, Tenn. | |
