Men’s Cross Country Picked Third in SEC Preseason Poll
August 29, 2022 | Cross Country
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Southeastern Conference announced the cross-country preseason poll Monday, as voted on by the league's coaches. Bolstered by several key additions to the program, the Vols have been picked to finish third.
UT garnered one first-place vote, while Alabama – voted to win the conference – earned six and Arkansas picked up five.
During the summer, the men added national champions Dylan Jacobs and Yaseen Abdalla. Jacobs won the 2022 10K national title in June with Notre Dame, while Abdalla was a member of the Texas Distance Medley Relay group that won the national title at Indoor NCAAs in March.
Jacobs placed 10th at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships and is a three-time cross country All-American. Abdalla also earned All-America honors in cross country last season.
Joining the duo from Grand Canyon is Jacob Lewis, who is a two-time WAC champion in the 1500-meter and an indoor WAC champion in the mile. Nate Kawalec is another new addition from NC State. The Chardon, Ohio, native placed fourth overall at the Outdoor ACC Championships in the 5000m, while finishing 19th at the NCAA Southeast Region Cross Country Championships last fall.
The four transfers strengthen the team, which also features the return of Karl Thiessen. In 2021, he became the first Vol to qualify for the national meet in cross country since 2018. The two-time NCAA All-South Region honoree finished in the top half of the field at cross county nationals a season ago.
Tennessee opens the season on Friday, Sept. 2 at home as it plays host to the Tennessee Cross Country Invitational.
UT garnered one first-place vote, while Alabama – voted to win the conference – earned six and Arkansas picked up five.
During the summer, the men added national champions Dylan Jacobs and Yaseen Abdalla. Jacobs won the 2022 10K national title in June with Notre Dame, while Abdalla was a member of the Texas Distance Medley Relay group that won the national title at Indoor NCAAs in March.
Jacobs placed 10th at the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships and is a three-time cross country All-American. Abdalla also earned All-America honors in cross country last season.
Joining the duo from Grand Canyon is Jacob Lewis, who is a two-time WAC champion in the 1500-meter and an indoor WAC champion in the mile. Nate Kawalec is another new addition from NC State. The Chardon, Ohio, native placed fourth overall at the Outdoor ACC Championships in the 5000m, while finishing 19th at the NCAA Southeast Region Cross Country Championships last fall.
The four transfers strengthen the team, which also features the return of Karl Thiessen. In 2021, he became the first Vol to qualify for the national meet in cross country since 2018. The two-time NCAA All-South Region honoree finished in the top half of the field at cross county nationals a season ago.
Tennessee opens the season on Friday, Sept. 2 at home as it plays host to the Tennessee Cross Country Invitational.
Players Mentioned
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