XC CENTRAL: Vols vs. Louisville

Friday, August 31

Knoxville, TN

6:00 PM

University of Tennessee

Tennessee-Louisville Dual

KNOXVILLE, TN - 2017.09.02 - Tennessee Dual

August 30, 2018 | Track & Field

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee cross country team opens the season Friday night with a home dual meet against Louisville.

The women's 4K starts at 6 p.m., followed by the men's 6K at 6:30 p.m. at Cherokee Farm Cross Country Course.

The Vols split the meet last year with the UT men taking the four-mile race and Louisville going home a winner in a 5K. Wesley Robinson took second in the men's competition to lead the Vols.

The Tennessee men are ranked fifth in the first USTFCCCA South Region poll of the season and are picked to finish fourth in the SEC. The UT women are ninth in the region, a one-position improvement from last year.

Louisville's men are ranked 14th in the southeast region, and the women are sixth.

"We're excited to be hosting. We've got a great cross country course out at Cherokee Farm," Tennessee director of track and field/cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "It's been a huge asset in training the last few years. We're thrilled with the season thus far, going on two weeks of training. To get a test run in competition will be fun.

"After splitting the meet with Louisville last year, we look to challenge on both sides. They're both very talented team, and we look to run a full squad on both sides. We've got some great returners, but we have some impact freshmen for the men and women who'll be wearing that orange uniform for the first time and see what happens."

PREVIEWING THE TENNESSEE MEN:
2018 SEC Coaches Poll: 4th
2018 USTFCCCA Region Ranking: 5th
2017 SEC Finish: 5th
2017 NCAA South Region Finish: 5th

Who's Back: Coming off a fifth-place finish at SECs last season, the Vols return almost the entire roster for 2019. That list includes senior Zach Long, who is coming off his most successful track season in which he broke two school records and placed third in the 1500m at the SEC outdoor championship. The native of Rutledge, Tenn., recorded three top-10 finishes in cross country last season, including 10th place at the SEC meet, and he also earned USTFCCCA All-South Region honors.

Senior Wesley Robinson ran second most of the season, eventually placing 19th at the SEC meet and 27th at the NCAA South Regional. Sophomore Alex Crigger took 30th in his first SEC meet as a freshman and was a steeplechase bronze medalist during track season. Sophomore John Elrod took 25th at SEC last year. Returning scorers also include junior Gashaw Duhamel (Oak Ridge, Tenn.), Andre Hillsman (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Conner Hawkins (Cookeville, Tenn.).

Who's New: Tennessee has four newcomers on the men's side: Max Barbour (Reisterstown, Md.), Joe Hoots (Nashville, Tenn.), Devin Sullivan (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Karl Thiessen (Abingdon, Va.). Thiessen is a two-time Virginia Class 3A state cross country champion to go along with two track titles he won as a senior for Abingdon High School (1600m, 3200m).

Alford-Sullivan: "We've got a young returning team, but we'll probably feel the most impact from Karl Thiessen, who's just over the state line in Virginia. He's someone who's very well-prepared after a great summer of training. I look forward to see what he can piece together in the opener."

PREVIEWING THE TENNESSEE WOMEN:
2018 SEC Coaches Poll: 9th
2018 USTFCCCA Region Ranking: 9th
2017 SEC Finish: 10th
2017 NCAA South Region Finish: 10th

Who's Back: The Lady Vols return four of five top scorers from last season, including junior Megan Murray. The Knoxville native was Tennessee's top runner in all six meets last season, earning USTFCCCA All-South Region Honors with a 21st-place finish at the NCAA regional meet. Scoring returners also include: sophomore Abigail Smith (Greer, S.C.), sophomore Rachel Ware (Germantown, Tenn.) and senior Peighton Meske (Knoxville, Tenn.).

Who's New: There are five freshmen on the roster this season: Laura Bretscher (Knoxville, Tenn.), Sarah McCabe (Southlake, Texas), Sloane Montgomery (St. Louis, Mo.), Sydney Seymour (Seven Hills, Ohio) and Katie Thronson (Spokane, Wash.). Thronson won seven of her eight races as a senior at Lewis and Clark High School, including the Washington Class 4A state title. She also placed 19th at the Foot Locker Nationals.

Alford-Sullivan: "Two immediate impacts we'll feel this year will be from Sydney Seymour out of the Cleveland, Ohio, area and Katie Thronson from the Spokane area in Washington. Sydney's done some tremendous stuff in her young career in high school. Katie is a Foot Locker finalist and multiple-time Washington state champion. Those two will bring some added and needed depth to the women's side. We'll look forward to seeing them in the orange this year."

DRIVING DIRECTIONS TO CHEROKEE FARM:
From McGhee Tyson Airport: Take 129 North (Alcoa Hwy.) toward Knoxville. Take the Cherokee Farm Way exit. Turn left onto Cherokee Farm Way. Keep right to stay on Cherokee Farm Way which will circle underneath Alcoa Highway. Turn left onto Accelerator Way to find parking.

From I-40 east (from Nashville) and I-75 north (from Chattanooga): : Follow I-40 and I-75 to I-40/I-75 junction in west Knoxville. Continue on I-40 east to U.S. Highway 129 south. Take the Cherokee Farm Way exit. Turn right onto Cherokee Farm. Turn left onto Accelerator Way to find parking.

From I-40 west (from Asheville, N.C.): : Follow I-40 west to U.S. Highway 129 south. Take the Cherokee Farm Way exit. Turn right onto Cherokee Farm. Turn left onto Accelerator Way to find parking.

From I-75 south (from Lexington, Ky.): : Follow I-75 south to I-275 south just past Merchants Road. Follow I-275 to I-40 east. Continue on I-40 east to U.S. Highway 129 south. Take the Cherokee Farm Way exit. Turn right onto Cherokee Farm. Turn left onto Accelerator Way to find parking.