University of Tennessee Athletics
UT Cross Country Set for Commodore Classic
September 16, 2016 | Track & Field
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee men’s and women’s cross country program returns to action this Saturday in its second race of the season. Both teams will travel to Nashville to compete in Vanderbilt’s Commodore Classic at Vaughn’s Gap Cross Country Course at Percy Warner Park.
The men will run an 8K starting at 9 a.m. CT/10 a.m. ET and the women’s 5K begins at 10 a.m. CT/11 a.m. ET. Tennessee will compete against 24 schools on the men’s side and 26 on the women’s side, including five other SEC programs (Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri and Vanderbilt).
“We’re excited to go to the Commodore Classic, it should be an interesting competition for us,” director of track & field and cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan said. “It will be the first time the men will run five miles. We look to continue to improve upon training, racing and getting more experience in this early part of the season.”
The men’s team seeks to build off of its win in the season opener against UT Martin on Sept. 3rd in the Tennessee Dual. Sophomore Zach Long led the Vols, earning second place in the men’s 4-mile run with a time of 21:00.2. Sophomore Wesley Robinson took third place with a time of 21:16.5.
Sophomore Peighton Meske paced the women at the Tennessee Dual, finishing fifth in the 3-mile competition. Sophomore Julia Rizor (18:54.5) earned sixth place and her sister Jessica Rizor took seventh with a mark of 18:57.3.
UT’s men’s squad earned eighth place at last year’s Commodore Classic. Former Vols Kyle Walter (25:30.20), and Jack Little (25:44.10) led the Vols. Zach Long (25:51.50). Long finished the competition in 40th place out of 213 runners.
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