Vols Race at Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational

Friday, September 28

Madison, WI

University of Tennessee

Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational

EUGENE, OR - 2018.06.08 - NCAA Track and Field Championships

Photo by: Amanda Pruitt/Tennessee Athletics

September 28, 2018 | Track & Field

Results

MADISON, Wisc. — The Tennessee cross country team gained experience against some of the nation's best squads and previewed the NCAA championship course Friday at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational.

Running in the 8K men's championship race, the Vols finished 23rd as a team against a field of 19 nationally ranked opponents. Senior Zach Long was UT's top finisher in 30th place (23:50.4). The Tennessee women took second as a team in the B 6K race, led by Katie Thronson in third place (21:01.9) and Megan Murray in fourth (21:07.1).

The Vols also fielded a five-man scoring team in the B 8K men's race. Gashaw Duhamel worked his way up the standings to 16th (24:58.2).

In the 8K men's championship, Long was followed in UT scoring by true freshman Karl Thiessen, who took 95th (24:25.8). Additional Tennessee scorer included: sophomore Alex Crigger (110th; 24:30.5), senior Nick Brey (146th; 24:48.8) and senior Wesley Robinson (182nd; 25:14.4).

With her third-place finish, Thronson has now recorded top-three finishes in her first three career collegiate races, while Murray collected her second top-10 finish of the fall. They were joined in scoring by Peighton Meske (24th; 21:41.5), Sydney Seymour, (29th; 21:48.2) and Abigail Smith (43rd; 22:04.8).

Wisconsin will host the NCAA championships at the Thomas Zimmer Cross Country Course on Nov. 17.

QUOTES
Beth Alford-Sullivan, Director of Track & Field/Cross Country
"The women's race was a great competition for us. The B race was a close team competition and we had two place in the top 10 in Katie (Thronson) and Megan (Murray). It was another step forward for the team as a program. It was a beautiful course, and they handled it really well.

"In the men's B race, Gashaw (Duhamel) really raced. He started in back of the back and kept moving up until he finished in 16th.

"The men's race was so competitive. We had 34 teams start, and 33 finished. It was a feeling of walking away oh so close. We were hoping to finish 18-20, but oh so close. We were hoping to beat a few other teams from other regions. Texas was just eight points ahead of us and Villanova was 15 points ahead. We're trying to beat teams with opportunities to get out of our region to nationals. We had a good shot of beating our conference rival in Alabama, but they did not finish their fifth runner so they did not get a team score. Zach Long did a great job. He wanted to finish top 25 but ended in 30th. It was another great race from Karl Thiessen one of the top two or three true freshmen out there. We walk away a little bittersweet for the men, satisfying for the women. I look forward to what both teams will bring into the postseason as we continue our training.

"It was good to see Coach Nuttycombe again and run on Wisconsin's course before the NCAAs. Their course is beautiful and competitive. It's going to be a wonderful championship."

NUTTYCOMBE WISCONSIN INVITATIONAL
Men's Championship 8K Champion Race
Tennessee Results
30. Zach Long, 23:50.4 (28)
95. Karl Thiessen, 24:25.8 (93)
110. Alex Crigger, 24:30.5 (108)
146. Nick Brey, 24:48.8 (144)
182. Wesley Robinson, 25:14.4 (179)
--
211. Max Barbour, 25:46.9
215. Adam Johnston, 26:10.5

Team Results
1. Northern Arizona, 46
2. Wisconsin, 135
3. Portland, 140
4. Iowa State, 152
5. Boise State, 160
6. Colorado State, 253
7. Air Force, 267
8. Colorado, 278
9. Purdue, 317
10. Southern Utah, 332
--
23. Tennessee, 552

Men's "B" 8K Race
Tennessee Results
16. Gashaw Duhamel, 24:58.2 (9)
36. Brad Swiney, 25:17.7 (22)
64. Georde Goodwyn, 26:00.0 (38)
82. Nick Boogades, 26:38.8 (49)
84. Andre Hillsman, 26:47.7 (51)

Team Results
1. Princeton, 48
2. Northern Arizona, 56
3. Michigan, 116
4. Georgetown, 135
5. Tulsa, 138
6. Indiana, 141
7. Southern Illinois, 163
8. Tennessee, 169
9. Bradley, 182

Women's "B" 6K Race
Tennessee Results
3. Katie Thronson, 21:01.9 (2)
4. Megan Murray, 21:07.1 (3)
24. Peighton Meske, 21:41.5 (15)
29. Sydney Seymour, 21:48.2 (18)
43. Abigail Smith, 22:04.8 (27)
--
55 Jessica Rizor, 22:24.9
58 Alaina Riordan, 22:34.1

Team Results
1. Michigan State, 31
2. Tennessee, 64
3. New Mexico, 86
4. Alabama, 131
5. Northern Arizona, 132
6. Oklahoma State, 133
7. Charlotte, 187
8. Southern Illinois, 213
9. Delaware, 225
10. Bradley, 263