University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Brooks/Paul Short Run
Vols Finish 11th At Paul Short Run
September 28, 2012 | Track & Field
Sept. 28, 2012
RESULTS-W | RESULTS-M | Photo Gallery 
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Newcomers Peter Okwera and Alexis Panisse once again paced the Tennessee cross country teams, leading the Vols and Lady Vols at Friday's 39th annual Paul Short Run presented by Brooks at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.
"Based on their times and finishes in the races, both teams improved dramatically at the Paul Short Run this year," said director of track & field and cross country J.J. Clark. "They're both moving in the right direction and will continue to get better as the season winds towards the championship portion."
For the third time this season, Okwera paced the Big Orange with a 24th place finish in a loaded field of 332 runners. The sophomore transfer navigated the 8,000-meter Goodman Campus Course in 24 minutes, 37 seconds, guiding the Vols to a program-best 11th place team finish at the event. UT improved 26 places from last season's 37th place finish at the meet.
The Tennessee men accumulated 392 points, while 22nd-ranked Villanova won the meet with 69 total points and posted an impressive spread of 25 seconds. William & Mary took second with 100 points and No. 15 Georgetown rounded out the top three, just one point behind the Tribe.
Panisse was the Lady Vols' top finisher for the third-straight meet, crossing the line in a 6,000-meter personal best time of 21:36. The Bellerose, N.Y., native finished 58th in a field of 360 runners in the women's Gold Race on the Goodman Campus Course.
"Peter and Alexis continue to lead their teams," Clark said. "They have done a great job in doing so and they too will continue to improve as the season continues."
The Tennessee women, who finished 32nd a year ago, placed 20th out of 40 teams with a total of 617 points. UT improved 12 slots from last year's 32nd place finish. Ivy League affiliate Cornell took home the team trophy with 55 total points, while William & Mary's women also placed second with 102 total points. No. 4 Georgetown wound up third with 106 points.
"Kelsey (Kane) and J.R. (Creekmore) had major improvements as well, and it was another solid race for Kyle (Walter), who broke the 25-minute mark for the first time," said Clark.
Other scorers for the UT men included redshirt freshman Kyle Walter in 48th, who shattered his personal-best 8K time in 24:56 and junior Stephen Derlath in 77th in a personal-best mark of 25:18. Sophomore Austin Whitelaw finished 99th (25:30) and classmate J.R. Creekmore in 144th with a PR of 25:55.
Running but not factoring into the points were juniors Daniel Tobin (187th, 26:17), Jordan Chaney (220th, 26:47) and Alex McCandless (123rd, 26:53), as well as sophomore Jeremy Dickie (311th, 27:35).
Other scorers for the Lady Vols included senior Kelsey Kane in 118th place in a personal-best time of 22:20, junior Amber Zimmerman in the 130th position (22:28), freshman Chelsea Blaase in 151st with a PR of 22:41 and Kacey Nobert in 160th (22:46).
Not factoring into UT's sum was junior Patavia Lowery, who bested her 6K personal record in a time of 23:09 to finish 196th, sophomores Amirah Johnson (221st, 23:31) and Lizzie Cornell (272nd, 23:45), freshman Caroline Duer (273rd, 23:48) and senior Nijgia Snapp (325th, 24:43).
The Big Orange is off next weekend, before resuming action at Alabama's Crimson Classic on Saturday, Oct. 13.
For more information about the Tennessee harriers, visit UTSports.com and follow @Vol_Track on Twitter.
MEN'S TEAM RESULTS (TOP 10): 1. Villanova, 69; 2. William & Mary, 100; 3. Georgetown, 101; 4. Dartmouth, 175; 5. Providence, 194; 6. Cornell, 202; 7. Yale, 255; 8. Columbia, 309; 9. Lehigh, 312; 10. Saint Joseph's, 332; 11. Tennessee, 392
WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS (TOP 10): 1. Cornell, 55; 2. William & Mary, 102; 3. Georgetown, 106; 4. Yale, 147; 5. Dartmouth, 149; 6. Providence, 167; 7. Villanova, 184; 8. Brown, 196; 9. New Hampshire, 331; 10. Navy, 332; 20. Tennessee, 617
MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: Peter Okwera (24th, 24:37), Kyle Walter (48th, 24:56), Stephen Derlath (77th, 25:18), Austin Whitelaw (99th, 25:30), J.R. Creekmore (144th, 25:55), Daniel Tobin (187th, 26:17), Jordan Chaney (220th, 26:47), Alex McCandless (123rd, 26:53), Jeremy Dickie (311th, 27:35)
WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS: Alexis Panisse (58th, 21:36), Kelsey Kane (118th, 22:20), Amber Zimmerman (130th, 22:28), Chelsea Blaase (151st, 22:41), Kacey Nobert (160th, 22:46), Patavia Lowery (196th, 23:09), Amirah Johnson (221st, 23:31), Lizzie Cornell (272nd, 23:45), Caroline Duer (273rd, 23:48), Nijgia Snapp (325th, 24:43)
