Freshmen Lead Vols in XC Home Opener

Friday, August 31

Knoxville, TN

6:00 PM

University of Tennessee

Tennessee-Louisville Dual

KNOXVILLE, TN - 2018.08.31 - Tennessee vs. Louisville Cardinals

Photo by: Maury Neipris/Tennessee Athletics

August 31, 2018 | Track & Field

Women's Results Men's Results Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Freshmen led the way as the Tennessee cross country team opened the season Friday in a dual meet against Louisville at Cherokee Farm.

The races came down to the wire in the team scoring, but Louisville was victorious in both events, winning the women's three-mile race 26-29 and the men's four-mile event 26-31.

In the women's three mile, freshmen Katie Thronson and Sydney Seymour were the top two finishers for the Lady Vols as newcomers accounted for three of five scoring positions for Tennessee.

Thronson, a Foot Locker national finalist as a high schooler in Washington, sprinted past two Louisville runners late to finish second overall in 17 minutes, 39.93 seconds. Seymour, an Ohio native, was fifth in 17:50.01. The Lady Vols' three additional scorers also included: senior Peighton Meske (sixth, 18:12.40), freshman Alaina Riordan (seventh, 18:22.49) and junior Jessica Rizor (ninth, 18:37.71).

Dorcas Wasike of Louisville won the women's event in in 17:14.94.

In the men's four mile, freshman Karl Thiessen was the Vols' top finisher in his debut, taking third overall in 20:50.57. Thiessen enters his collegiate career having won two Virginia high school state titles.

Sophomore Alex Crigger was Tennessee's No. 2 runner, placing fifth in 21:04.22. Junior Gashaw Duhamel (sixth, 21:09.85), redshirt senior Nick Brey (eighth, 21:18.49) and senior Brad Swiney (ninth, 21:24.67)

Louisville had some freshmen success of its own as Emmanuel Cheboson won the men's race in 20:14.40.

UP NEXT: The Vols will be back in action Sept. 7 for the Pre-SEC Meet in Auburn, Ala. It will serve as good postseason preparation for the team as Auburn will host the conference championships on Oct. 26.

QUOTES:
Beth Alford-Sullivan, Director of Track and Field/Cross Country
"We're training very, very hard right now. We held a lot of kids out of the lineup. Louisville ran their full lineups on both sides. I was very pleased with our fight. Last year, Louisville's women beat us by about 20 points. Today, we closed that gap to three, and I have my frontrunner yet to enter the lineup. I was very proud of that. Our two freshmen came in and fought it out, which was tremendous.

"For the men, it was a close one. They had a chip on their shoulder. We beat them last year and clearly they were ready and fighting to give us a good run, and they did. Again, same thing: I held some guys out of the lineup. We'll race in just seven days at Auburn to preview the SEC championship course. That'll be a nice run for us, and then we'll go into a great training cycle. We'll use the rest of September for training and then we'll be in a great position to race at the end of it."

TENNESSEE VS. LOUISVILLE DUAL MEET
Women's Three Mile
Final Score: Louisville 26, Tennessee 29
Tennessee Results
2. Katie Thronson, 17:39.93
5. Sydney Seymour, 17:50.01
6. Peighton Meske, 18:12.40
7. Alaina Riordan, 18:22.49
9. Jessica Rizor, 18:37.71
—
11. Abigail Smith, 18:43.51
13. Taylor Luthringer, 19:12.85
14. Emma Reed, 19:24.06
17. Sloane Montgomery, 19:43.65
18. Sarah McCabe, 19:46.89
19. Laura Bretscher, 19:49.89

Men's Four Mile
Final Score: Louisville 26, Tennessee 31
Tennessee Results
3. Karl Thiessen, 20:50.57
5. Alex Crigger, 21:04.22
6. Gashaw Duhamel, 21:09.85
8. Nick Brey, 21:18.49
9. Brad Swiney, 21:24.67
--
10. Andre Hillsman, 21:41.25
11. Max Barbour, 21:50.68
14. Georde Goodwyn, 22:27.43
15. Nick Boogades, 22:32.30
17. Jose Parrilla, 22:40.68
20. Trey Quealy, 24:01.82