Lady Vols Claim Team Title at Tennessee Invitational

Friday, September 11

Knoxville, Tenn.

8 a.m. ET

University of Tennessee

Tennessee Invitational

September 11, 2026 | Cross Country

Results Photo Gallery

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee cross country opened the 2026 season in winning fashion Friday morning, as the Lady Vols captured the team title at the Tennessee Cross Country Invitational at Cherokee Farms.

Tennessee totaled 39 points to edge Kentucky by one point for the women's three-mile team championship, with Middle Tennessee placing third with 46 points. On the men's side, the Vols finished second in the four-mile team race with 42 points, trailing Middle Tennessee (31) and finishing ahead of Kentucky (48).

After an All-SEC, All-Region and All-America debut season in 2025, Lady Vol sophomore Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka led Tennessee with a third-place finish in 15:58.7, improving on her mark from the 2025 home opener by more than 30 seconds. Ogwoka was followed by sophomore Faith Chepchumba, who finished fifth at 16:34.3 in her first cross country action at Tennessee.

Freshmen Dani Graham and Payton Meineke made their collegiate debuts in the Big Orange scoring lineup, finishing eighth and 10th, respectively, in 17:11.9 and 17:13.8. Lady Vol senior Summer Schuster (13th, 17:28.7), junior Tula Fawbush (14th, 17:29.4) and senior Caroline Lyerly (15th, 17:37.8) also finished inside the top 15.

Four Vols placed in the top 10 of Friday's four-mile, led by junior All-American Zouhair Redouane with a fourth-place finish in 19:28.6. Ethan Edgeworth followed in seventh at 19:38.9, followed by sophomores Noah Harris (9th, 19:42.0) and Nelson Mapi Setek (10th, 19:42.4). Ty Steorts rounded out the Vols' scoring five in 12th place with a time of 19:56.0.

UP NEXT: After the home opener, the Vols and Lady Vols will begin preparations for the Gans Creek Classic on Friday, Sept. 26, in Columbia, Missouri, getting a preview of the host site of the 2026 SEC Cross Country Championships.

Tennessee Cross Country Invitational

Men's 4-Mile
Team Results
1. Middle Tennessee – 31 points
2. Tennessee – 42 points
3. Kentucky – 48 points

UT Individual Results
4. Zouhair Redouane – 19:28.6
7. Ethan Edgeworth – 19:38.9
9. Noah Harris – 19:42.0
10. Nelson Mapi Setek – 19:42.4
12. Ty Steorts – 19:56.0
15. Charlie Mlotshwa – 20:09.5
19. Liam Conway – 20:39.5
22. Oliver MacDonald – 20:50.6

Women's 3-Mile
Team Results
1. Tennessee – 39 points
2. Kentucky – 40 points
3. Middle Tennessee – 46 points

UT Individual Results
3. Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka – 15:58.7
5. Faith Chepchumba – 16:34.3
8. Dani Graham – 17:11.9
10. Payton Meineke – 17:13.8
13. Summer Schuster – 17:28.7
14. Tula Fawbush – 17:29.4
15. Caroline Lyerly – 17:37.8
19. Kaitlyn Vanderkolk – 18:30.2
21. Haley Loewe – 18:45.3