University of Tennessee Athletics
Saturday, November 17
Madison, WI
University of Tennessee
vs
NCAA Championships
Photo by: Kyle Zedaker/Tennessee Athletics
Murray, Long Race in NCAA XC Championship
November 17, 2018 | Track & Field
MADISON, Wisc. — Tennessee natives Megan Murray and Zach Long competed in their first NCAA Cross Country Championship on Saturday at the Thomas Zimmer Championship Course.Â
Murray started the day with the women's 6K, finishing 139th overall with a time of 21:23.4. The men's 10K followed with Long placing 204th overall (31:46.26).Â
The course conditions were just below freezing and wet. Though it did not snow during the race, there was snow already on the ground, much different that Murray and Long's last race at the NCAA South Regional in Tallahassee, Florida.Â
Saturday marks the end of the cross country season. The Tennessee men earned a national ranking for the first time since 2005, checking in at No. 30 last month. The Vols were placed third at the NCAA South Region Championships, one spot away from automatically qualifying as a squad. The Tennessee women took seventh at both the SEC and NCAA South Region meets.
The indoor track season begins Dec. 8 at Clemson.Â
QUOTES
Beth Alford-Sullivan, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country
"It was a really valiant effort on both Megan and Zach's parts. They prepared well for the race with everything focused and really ready to go. Megan had a competitive race. She moved through the race well and used tactics to move through the pack to finish near the top half of a very fast race. The cold conditions got to her a little bit. She couldn't get in a good rhythm after being chilled at the front line.Â
"Zach got off the line well and put himself in the race. It was one of the fastest paced cross country races in the history of our sport, and the fast pace eventually took a toll on him. It was frustrating for him as a senior, but I'm very proud of his effort in his first cross country championship."
Murray started the day with the women's 6K, finishing 139th overall with a time of 21:23.4. The men's 10K followed with Long placing 204th overall (31:46.26).Â
The course conditions were just below freezing and wet. Though it did not snow during the race, there was snow already on the ground, much different that Murray and Long's last race at the NCAA South Regional in Tallahassee, Florida.Â
Saturday marks the end of the cross country season. The Tennessee men earned a national ranking for the first time since 2005, checking in at No. 30 last month. The Vols were placed third at the NCAA South Region Championships, one spot away from automatically qualifying as a squad. The Tennessee women took seventh at both the SEC and NCAA South Region meets.
The indoor track season begins Dec. 8 at Clemson.Â
QUOTES
Beth Alford-Sullivan, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country
"It was a really valiant effort on both Megan and Zach's parts. They prepared well for the race with everything focused and really ready to go. Megan had a competitive race. She moved through the race well and used tactics to move through the pack to finish near the top half of a very fast race. The cold conditions got to her a little bit. She couldn't get in a good rhythm after being chilled at the front line.Â
"Zach got off the line well and put himself in the race. It was one of the fastest paced cross country races in the history of our sport, and the fast pace eventually took a toll on him. It was frustrating for him as a senior, but I'm very proud of his effort in his first cross country championship."
Players Mentioned
XC/Distance
/ Track & Field
XC/Middle Distance/Distance
/ Track & FieldEverything Orange S2 | Sarah Schmitt (Track & Field)
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