Vols Earn Team, Individual Titles at Auburn Invite

Friday, September 7

Auburn, AL

University of Tennessee

Pre-SEC Meet

Knoxville, TN - 2017.08.03 - Cross Country Photoshoot

Photo by: John Golliher/Tennessee Athletics

September 07, 2018 | Track & Field

Women's 4K Results Men's 6K Results

AUBURN, Ala. — The Tennessee women earned a team victory in the 4K while senior Zach Long captured his first cross country individual win Friday in the Auburn Invitational.

In a field of five SEC squads, the Vols won the women's 4K with four finishers in the top 10 for a total of 34 points.

Freshmen Katie Thronson and Sydney Seymour led the way in their second career races. Thronson pushed to pass leader Ylva Traxler of Ole Miss but came up a second short in third place (13:25.93). Seymour took fourth (13:27.34).

Making her season debut, returning all-region runner Megan Murray was sixth in 13:38.41. She was followed by senior Peighton Meske in seventh in a career-best 13:38.41. Alaina Riordan rounded out scoring in 14th (14:01.82).

"This was the first race back for Megan Murray this season," Tennessee director of track and field/cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "She showed her dominance and came out front early and was joined by freshmen Katie Thronson and Sydney Seymour. The three worked as a unit and had a great race. Peighton Meske had another great race today, one of her best at Tennessee. We were strong through seven to put up a big W over Ole Miss."

In the men's 6K, Long broke away from the pack for his first individual victory in 17:43.99, nearly 10 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Michael Coccia of Ole Miss. The win also marked the cross country season debut for Long, who is coming off a banner track season in which he broke two school records.

Freshman Karl Thiessen was the second Vol across the line in 18:05.05, taking fifth. He was followed by Alex Crigger in sixth (18:14.59), Nick Brey in 11th (18:27.32) and Wesley Robinson in 12th (18:34.19).

The Vols finished second in the team standings with 35 points, narrowly behind winner Ole Miss (31).

"Zach Long has come into the season in strong form," Alford-Sullivan said. "He made a decisive move 4k into it, broke the race open and held on really well into the finish. It's been a while since he's been in that kind of race.

"As a whole, our men's team ran really well. The conditions were really hot, and humid, and Ole Miss nipped us by 3 or 4 points at the end with their closing speed. I thought we competed extremely well against them. We gained perspective of competing against the SEC and experience on the conference course. They stepped up and competed. I'm thrilled with what they did."

The meet served as key postseason preparation for the Vols as Auburn will be hosting the SEC Championships at Indian Pines Golf Course in October.

"Auburn did an extremely good job putting together this event and the course," Alford-Sullivan said. "We look forward to the SEC championship and putting this experience in our favor."

UP NEXT: Tennessee returns to competition Sept. 28 with the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational in Madison, Wisconsin.

AUBURN INVITATIONAL
Women's 4K
Tennessee Results
3. Katie Thronson, 13:24.71
4. Sydney Seymour, 13:25.93
6. Megan Murray, 13:38.41
7. Peighton Meske, 13:46.55
14. Alaina Riordan, 14:01.82
—
23. Jessica Rizor, 14:12.26
28. Abigail Smith, 14:25.88
33. Laura Bretscher, 14:35.22
34. Emma Reed, 14:37.22
43. Sarah McCabe, 14:46.76

Team Standings
1. Tennessee, 34
2. Ole Miss, 53
3. Vanderbilt, 54
4. Alabama, 78
5. Auburn, 125

Men's 6K
Tennessee Results
1. Zach Long, 17:43.99
5. Karl Thiessen, 18:05.05
6. Alex Crigger, 18:14.59
11. Nick Brey, 18:27.32
12. Wesley Robinson, 18:34.19
--
13. Max Barbour, 18:34.76
14. Adam Johnston, 18:35.07
17. Brad Swiney, 18:41.62
20. Georde Goodwyn, 19:08.79
22. Nick Boogades, 19:08.84
23. Gashaw Duhamel, 19:12.76

Team Standings
1. Ole Miss, 31
2. Tennessee, 35
3. Auburn, 80
4. Vanderbilt, 96
5. Alabama, 119