University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
NCAA South Regional (10k)
Tennessee Men Finish Fifth at NCAA South Regional
November 15, 2008 | Cross Country
Nov. 15, 2008
The Tennessee men's cross country team ran to a fifth-place finish with 156 points Saturday in the NCAA South Regional held at Lambert Acres Golf Course in Maryville, Tenn. Senior Andrew Press was the top Tennessee finisher in 19th place overall.
Alabama captured the team crown with 49 points, and Auburn's Felix Kibioywo won the individual title in 30:45.91.
"We performed about as well as our ranking said we would," Tennessee head coach George Watts said. "The guys felt like they could have done a little better, but our guys ran hard and we made improvement from last season, so I'm happy with that aspect of things."
Press was followed across the line by sophomore Michael Spooner, who placed 25th in a time of 32:22.07. The third Vol across the line was senior Steve Tobin in 26th with a clocking of 32:22.70. Junior Chris Rapp finished fourth among Vols and 33rd overall in a time of 32:45.63, and sophomore Steve Fassino was the final Vol to score for the team with a 61st-place finish in 33:44.13.
Spooner and Press earned all-region honors for their top-25 finishes.
"I thought Andrew Press and Michael Spooner had solid seasons," Watts said. "They're deserving of being all-region honorees. Andrew was all-region last season and Michael came on strong this season to join him."
Junior Mike Brodsky crossed the line 75th in a time of 34:09.43, while freshman Chris Bodary rounded out the Tennessee finishers in 106th with a time of 35:24.57.
Tennessee's distance runners will open the track and field season with the rest of the squad at the Virginia Tech Invitational on Jan. 9th and 10th.
| Team Results | |
| Alabama | 49 |
| Auburn | 59 |
| Florida State | 66 |
| Florida | 133 |
| Tennessee | 156 |
| Tennessee Finishes | |||
| 1. | Felix Kibioywo | Auburn | 30:45.9 |
| 19. | Andrew Press | Tennessee | 32:09.42 |
| 25. | Michael Spooner | Tennessee | 32:22.07 |
| 26. | Steve Tobin | Tennessee | 32:22.70 |
| 33. | Chris Rapp | Tennessee | 32:45.63 |
| 61. | Steve Fassino | Tennessee | 33:44.13 |
| 75. | Mike Brodsky | Tennessee | 34:09.43 |
| 106. | Chris Bodary | Tennessee | 35:24.57 |
Alabama Races to NCAA South Regional Victory
MARYVILLE, Tenn. - Alabama overcame a 1-2-3 individual finish by rival Auburn to claim team honors at the NCAA Men's Cross Country South Regional here Saturday.
The Crimson Tide's five scorers all crossed among the top 20 finishers, led by fifth-place Tyson David in a time of 31 minutes, 13.13 seconds over the 10 kilometers. Also scoring for Alabama were Augustus Maiyo in eighth (31:31.63), Abraham Kutingala 10th (31:31.80), Emmanuel Bor 11th (31:32.02) and Andrew Kirwa 17th (32:05.44).
"We did a good job of running as a group," Alabama head coach Joe Walker said. "We had our guys finish within a second or two of each other and they talked the whole way through. Our kids ran very smart with a good tempo.
"With my front-runner Tyson it was the same thing. I told him it was about getting through today as comfortable as you can and getting ready for next week."
Temperatures Saturday were in the low 50s, with winds at 15-20 mph under cloudy skies.
Auburn's Felix Kibioywo (30:45.91), Elkanah Kibet (30:47.08) and Girma Mesecho (30:50.42) were Saturday's individual medalists, leading the Tigers to 59 team points. Auburn's other two scorers were Scott Novak in 23rd (32:20.14) and Jean-Pierre Weerts 30th (32:40.20).
"I wasn't expecting to do well at all today," Kibioywo said. "I started way back but coach (Watson) told me just to race my own race, you know, and that's always my goal.
"I ran nationals last year with the front guys all the way, but this time I think I'm going to run from behind. I think that will be good for me."
Both Alabama and Auburn earned automatic qualification to the NCAA Championships, set for Nov. 24 in Terre Haute, Ind.
The top four individuals not on advancing teams also qualified automatically for the NCAA finals. Those four punching their tickets were Georgia State's Mark Steeds, who placed fourth overall in a time of 31:10.33, Florida State's Daniel Roberts sixth (31:14.26), Florida's Jeremy Criscione seventh (31:15.35) and South Alabama's Micah Tirop ninth (31:31.72).
Florida State finished third overall with 66 points and must await word on an at-large team bid. Florida (133 points) and Tennessee (156) rounded out the top five, followed by Mississippi State (164), East Tennessee State (165), Georgia State (227), Belmont (236) and Georgia Tech (263).
Alabama men's cross country head coach Joe Walker:
On winning the NCAA South Region:
"I think it was a great run. We really approached it in a smart way. We did a good job of running as a group. We had our guys finish within a second or two of each other and they talked the whole way through. Our kids ran very smart with a good tempo. It was a great tempo run today. We are eight or nine days from Terre Haute, and that's what we need. We'll get fresh and get ready for next week.
On No. 1 runner Tyson David:
"With my front-runner Tyson it was the same thing. I told him it was about getting through today as comfortable as you can and getting ready for next week."
Men's individual champion Felix Kibioywo of Auburn:
On his racing strategy:
"I wasn't expecting to do well at all today. I started way back but coach (Watson) told me just to race my own race, you know, and that's always my goal. I wasn't expecting to run that fast. I started way back and took my time to get to the top place."
On the windy and wet race conditions:
"Yesterday we were told it was going to rain and we were expecting it to be wet but we were focused on racing. This is what a cross country course is."
On preparing for the NCAA Championships:
"I ran nationals with the front guys all the way last year, but this time I think I'm going to run from behind. I think that will be good for me. Today is going to be similar to Nationals. My goal is to get top 20 in Terre Haute."
