Cross Country Central: SEC Championships

Friday, October 26

Auburn, AL

University of Tennessee

SEC Championships

KNOXVILLE, TN - 2018.08.31 - Tennessee vs. Louisville Cardinals

Photo by: Maury Neipris/Tennessee Athletics

October 25, 2018 | Track & Field

Live Results

AUBURN, Ala. — The Tennessee cross country team opens the postseason Friday with the SEC Championships at the Indian Pines Golf Course.

The women's 6K championships will begin at 10 a.m. Eastern (9 a.m. Central), followed by the men's 8K race at 11 a.m. Eastern (10 a.m. Central). The awards ceremony will follow. Admission is free.

PREVIEWING THE MEN: Facing strong national competition in the final two meets of the season, the Vols have compiled a 48-34 overall record, including an 8-1 mark in the SEC. Tennessee took fourth at the SEC meet last season and look to continue the climb up the ladder with a combination of senior leaders and newcomers.

Senior Zach Long has served as the Vols' No. 1 man again this season, finishing first on the team in all three races he has entered this season. He has earned two SEC Runner of the Week honors and won his first career race at the Auburn Invitational. He was 10th at the SEC Championships last year Karl Thiessen has collected two SEC Freshman of the Week honors as Tennessee's consistent No. 2 finisher. Sophomore Alex Crigger, senior Nick Brey and senior Wesley Robinson have rounded out the Vols' scoring this season.

PREVIEWING THE WOMEN: The Lady Vols have put together a 30-2 record (6-0 SEC) with two team victories: the Auburn Invitational (Sept. 28) and the Blazer Classic (Oct. 12).

Newcomer Katie Thronson, a two-time SEC Freshman of the Week, has been the Vols' top runner in three of four meets this season, placing in the top five overall in every race. Junior Megan Murray was the team's top finisher in the Blazer Classic to finish the year (third overall; 20:56.46). She is the top returner on the squad, earning USTFCCCA All-Region honors. She took 21st at the SEC meet last year. Freshman Sydney Seymour, senior captain Peighton Meske and sophomore Alaina Riordan have rounded out the scoring five in most meets this season. Meske has put together a strong final season, scoring personal bests in every race this season, including a 21:41.40 6K at the Blazer Classic to end the regular season.

BACK TO INDIAN PINES: Friday marks Tennessee's second meet this season at Indian Pines. The Vols competed against four fellow SEC schools in the Auburn Invitational (Sept. 7).

TENNESSEE IN THE USTFCCCA REGIONAL RANKINGS: The Vols enter postseason ranked No. 2 in the men's South Region, the highest ranking in program history. In the women's rankings, the Vols are eighth.

TEAMS IN THE USTFCCCA NATIONAL RANKINGS
Men:
No. 20 - Arkansas
No. 21 - Ole Miss
No. 30 - Alabama
RV - Tennessee

Women:
No. 5 - Arkansas
No. 24 - Georgia
No. 26 - Ole Miss
RV - Florida

TENNESSEE HISTORY AT THE SEC MEET
Men's Team Titles: 25
Men's Individual Titles: 16
Women's Team Titles: 5
Women's Individual Titles: 2

Tennessee is tied with Arkansas for the most men's team titles with 25. The Lady Vols are ranked third in all-time women's titles behind Arkansas (18) and Florida (6).

QUOTES
Beth Alford-Sullivan, Tennessee Director of Track & Field/Cross Country
"We were out at the course this morning. Auburn has put together a great championship environment. Their course is ready to go and ready to run well. We've got light rain today and heavier tomorrow. I think the course will handle the water well, and I think the athletes will adjust without any problems. Our teams look good. Everyone is healthy. Everyone is feeling very good, very confident on this course. We're within the 24-hour window, and everyone's just ready to lace them up and go. We're looking to see how the Vols handle themselves at the championship level. I feel very good about their preparation."