XC Central: UAB Blazer Classic

Friday, October 16

Birmingham, AL

8:45 AM

University of Tennessee

Blazer Classic

KNOXVILLE, TN - 2019.08.30 - Tennessee Tri-Star XC Challenge

Photo by: Andrew Ferguson/Tennessee Athletics

October 15, 2020 | Track & Field

Live Results

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Tennessee cross country teams are back in action this weekend, as the Vols and Lady Vols travel to Birmingham, Alabama, for the UAB Blazer Classic at Veterans' Park. The women's green 6K will begin at 7:45 a.m. CT, followed by the men's green 8K at 8:15.

RACE ASSIGNMENTS: The Lady Vols will be one of 10 teams running the women's green 6K, competing against Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. The Razorbacks highlight the women's field as defending national champions, while Florida State and Ole Miss respectively placed 12th and 21st at last year's NCAA meet.

On the men's side, Tennessee will toe the line against Arkansas, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Middle Tennessee, Ole Miss and Vanderbilt. Four of UT's eight opponents qualified for the NCAA Championships a year ago: Arkansas, Florida State, Middle Tennessee and defending SEC Champion Ole Miss.

LAST TIME OUT: Tennessee opened the 2020 campaign with a pair of fourth-place team finishes two weeks ago at the Live In Lou Cross Country Classic. The event marked the first competition for the Tennessee track & field / cross country programs in more than 200 days.

Junior Georde Goodwyn led the Tennessee men for the first time in his career, clocking at 24:05.1 on the 8K course to place seventh overall. Karl Thiessen, Riley Buchholz, Conner Hawkins and Alex Crigger rounded out the scoring five for the Vols, followed by the freshman duo of Eli Nahom and Mike Griffin as UT's top seven runners finished within a 40-second span.

The Lady Vols had a couple of top-five individual finishes in Louisville, as Katie Thronson (16:52.2) and Sydney Seymour (16:56.9) ran personal records in the 5K to place second and fourth, respectively. Olivia Janke (27th) and Abigail Smith (33rd) were the next Lady Vols across the finish line, followed by true freshman Kayla Gholar who scored in her collegiate debut with a time of 18:06.6.

VOLS IN THE POLLS: Both Tennessee squads have made their way into the Boost Treadmills national poll, which ranks the top-15 programs currently competing during the fall semester. The Tennessee men were tabbed No. 13 in the country, while the Lady Vols checked in at No. 14 in the poll's most recent installment.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and postponement of the NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) is not currently compiling national and/or regional rankings.

UP NEXT: Tennessee will begin postseason action Friday, October 30 as LSU hosts the 2020 SEC Cross Country Championships in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The conference meet will be televised on SEC Network, beginning at 9:05 a.m. CT with the women's 6,000m.