Vols and Lady Vols Finish in the Top-10 at North Alabama Showcase

Friday, September 17

Huntsville, AL

University of Tennessee

North Alabama Invite

Vols and Lady Vols Finish in the Top-10 at North Alabama Showcase

September 17, 2021 | Track & Field

Results

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Running in its second race of the season, the Tennessee men's and women's cross country teams finished in the top-10 at the North Alabama Showcase Friday at the John Hunt Cross Country Running Park.

"I am very pleased with our group today," director of track and field & cross country Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "Both teams ran well and competed hard. We came away with a pair of top-10 team finishes and got some of our younger racers experience."

MEN'S RACE RECAP
The Vols were led by Fuji Anday who placed 21st out of 169 runners, finishing the 8K race in 25:01.70. Thomas Gardiner also ran well for UT, placing 36th overall and crossing the finish line in 25:24.48.

Devin Sullivan and Will Mazur finished 52nd and 58th with times of 25:50.51 and 25:54.22. Matthew McMillan rounded out the group in 63rd, crossing the line in 25:59.58.

The men's team finished eighth overall.

"I am thrilled with how Fuji and Tom ran today," Alford-Sullivan said. "Today was Fuji's best race as a Volunteer and he and Tom both opened up extremely well."

WOMEN'S RACE RECAP
Avery Jackson led the Lady Vols Friday morning with a 46th-place finish in 18:14.74. Sarah McCabe finished 55th in 18:28.03, while Ainsley Cooper was 61st with a time of 18:34.32.

Erin Spreen and Msgana Araya closed out the group, finishing 72nd and 73rd with times of 18:52.02 and 18:52.42.

As a team, the women placed 10th in the field.

"Avery Jackson ran as our No. 1 today and competed very well," Alford-Sullivan said. "She set a new fastest time in the 5K race and led the charge for the Lady Vols."

FINAL WORD FROM ALFORD-SULLIVAN
"This was a good weekend for us, both in competition and in getting to preview the race course for the NCAA South Regional coming up in November. We learned a lot over the last two days down here in Huntsville and we'll take that back home with us. We'll apply it moving forward through the rest of the season and be ready to run hard when we're back here in November."

UP NEXT
UT travels to St. Paul, Minnesota, next week for the Roy Griak Invitational. The race is slated for Friday, Sept. 24 on the Les Bolstad Course.

RESULTS
Men's 8K (208 points – 8th of 17)
21. Fuji Anday – 25:01.70
36. Thomas Gardiner – 25:24.48
52. Devin Sullivan – 25:50.51
58. Will Mazur – 25:54.22
63. Matthew McMillan – 25:59.58

Women's 5K (275 points – 10th of 21)
46. Avery Jackson – 18:14.74
55. Sarah McCabe – 18:28.03
61. Ainsley Cooper – 18:34.32
72. Erin Spreen – 18:52.02
73. Msgana Araya – 18:52.42