University of Tennessee Athletics
Vols Release 2003 Cross Country Schedule
August 21, 2003 | Cross Country
Aug. 21, 2003
2003 CROSS COUNTRY SCHEDULE | 2003 CAPTAINS ANNOUNCED
Tennessee head cross country coach George Watts released the Vols' 2003 schedule today.
The Volunteers are slated to compete in four regular season races to prepare for the three-meet championship portion of the schedule. The Vols open with a home date Friday, Sept. 12 at Lambert Acres Golf Club in Maryville, Tenn. The Vols should see some faces from different regions with a Sept. 20 Navy Invitational date and an Oct. 4 Cardinal Classic race scheduled. Tennessee gets a preview of the NCAA South Regional course Oct. 10 at the Auburn Invitational.
The SEC Championships, the first race of the championship season, also marks the last 8K test of the season. The SEC race takes place Nov. 3 in Athens, Ga. Tension will rate high Nov. 15 for the NCAA South Regional Championships in Auburn, Ala. The South Region meet determines which two region teams advance to the NCAA Championships and the required distance increases to a demanding 10K. Tennessee vies for its third consecutive NCAA Championships trip in 2003. The two South Region teams will travel north Nov. 24 for the NCAAs in Cedar Falls, Iowa on a 10K course.
Klein and Lapp Elected as Cross Country Captains
Senior Steve Klein and junior Matthew Lapp were elected team captains for the 2003 Volunteer cross country squad. Upon their return from summer break, team members voted Klein and Lapp to lead Tennessee into the 2003 campaign.
"We have two fine young men in Steve Klein and Matthew Lapp voted by their teammates as team captains," head cross country coach George Watts said. "They are fine students and will be fine leaders for a very motivated cross country team. I am excited about the 2003 cross country season. We have a good nucleus of returnees. I am excited about our new kids and the immediate impact they can make."
Klein, a senior from Ballston Lake, N.Y., earned three cross country letters in his Vol tenure. In 2002, Klein won the Most Improved Award at the team banquet in part because he was one of only two Vols to score in all seven races. Klein also finished among the Vol scorers the last two seasons at the NCAA Cross Country Championships. Klein claimed the 2000 James Snow Award as the team's most outstanding freshman academically.
Lapp, a junior from Coatesville, Pa., owns two UT cross country letters. Lapp also won the James Snow Award in 2002 following his rookie campaign. Lapp ran in four races for the Vols in 2002. He made the cut on Tennessee's travel squad for the 2001 NCAA Cross Country Championships.
