University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Tennessee Tri-Star Cross Country Challenge
Sophomores Shine at Tennessee Tri-Star Challenge
August 30, 2019 | Track & Field
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Sophomores Karl Thiessen and Sydney Seymour stole the show Friday morning as Tennessee opened up its cross country season in the first edition of the Tennessee Tri-Star Cross Country Challenge at the Cherokee Farms Cross Country course.
The Vols and Lady Vols swept the team competition against inter-system schools UT Martin and UT Chattanooga in dominant fashion. The UT men scored 15 points compared to 52 and 79 points for Martin and Chattanooga, while the women record 16 points against 54 and 66 points for those respective schools.
Thiessen, a 2018 SEC All-Freshman Team member, picked up where he left off, running the four mile course in 20.56.83 for first place overall. The Abingdon, Va., native placed ahead of teammates Alex Crigger (21:15.15), Brayden Hamblen (21:15.24), Georde Goodwyn (21:29.70) and Max Barbour (21:32.25) who rounded out the top five.
Goodwyn set a new PR with his time, dropping from 22:27.43.
The top-10 finishers all came from the Vols, including Nick Brey and freshman Riley Buchholz who ran unattached.
In the women's three mile, Seymour crossed the finish line in 17:36.78, shattering her previous career-best of 17:50.01. The Lady Vols rounded out the top four with Katie Thronson (17:40.09), Megan Murray (18:02.29) and Abigail Smith (18:07.80).
Smith's time is also a new personal best, beating her previous time of 18:43.51.
"It was a good day," director of track and field and cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "We felt like we were going to have a good shot to run up front and control the race and control the tempo. We did that on both sides. We were supposed to run that as a nice strong tempo with a good close and we did that.
"The Tennessee staff did a great job putting this meet on. We had President Boyd out here, our athletic director Phillip Fulmer out here, many of the administration it was just really well supported and felt the love for Tennessee cross country."
The event brought in the University of Tennessee system schools UT Martin and UT Chattanooga to round out the Tri-Star Challenge. UT Interim President and avid runner, Randy Boyd, was on hand to welcome all three institutions and fire the starting pistol.
UP NEXT: UT will take two weeks off from competition before sending a group to Charlottesville, Va. for the Cavalier Classic on Saturday, Sept. 14. The meet will run on the University of Virginia's Panorama Farms Cross Country Course.
For the most up-to-date information on Tennessee cross country and track & field, follow @Vol_Track on Twitter.
Players Mentioned
