University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Commodore Classic
UT Men Take 8th At Commodore Classic
September 20, 2015 | Track & Field
Men's Results | Women's Results
NASHVILLE - The Tennessee men's cross country team placed eighth in its season debut at Saturday's Commodore Classic at Vaughn's Gap Course at Percy Warner Park.
The Tennessee women did not post a team score. UT started a full squad, but only four finished the race.
All-American Chelsea Blaase did not race on Saturday. Julia Rizor was also held out of the race. The full UT women's squad is expected to be in action on Oct. 3 when both Tennessee teams compete in the Greater Louisville Classic at E.P. "Tom" Sawyer Park in Louisville, Ky.
Twenty teams competed in the men's 8K with Louisville winning the race. The Cardinals' Japhet Kipkoech (24:34.6) and Edwin Kibichiy (24:35.7) finished first and second, respectively.
The Vols' seniors led the UT men with Kyle Walter finishing 26th with a time of 25:30.2 and Jack Little finishing 35th in 25:44.1. Zach Long was third on the team at 25:51.5 (40th) with Brad Swiney right behind him at 25:53.3 (43rd). Long and Swiney carved their way through the pack, moving up about 60 spots after the mile mark. Wesley Robinson rounded out Tennessee's top five at 26:37.0 (86th).
Tennessee ran 10 men with eight running a collegiate 8K race for the first time.
"We had to work our way through and I thought our top four did very well," Tennessee Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Beth Alford-Sullivan said. "We got some great composure out of our seniors and our captains in Kyle Walter and Jack Little. The dynamic duo of Zach Long and Brad Swiney really worked their way through the race."
"I think the future bodes very well. Those four look very strong and I think we will get a fifth coming into form as the season progresses."
Michigan won the women's 5K with four runners finishing in the top 10. The Wolverines' Erin Finn took first place with a time of 16:43.4.
For the second-straight race, freshman Jessica Rizor paced the Tennessee women, clocking a time of 18.28.6 (87th). Abby McCulla was right behind her at 18:28.8 (88th). Emma Reed finished in 18:49.0 (116th) and Caroline Duer clocked in at 19:45.2 (180th).
"It was a definite learning lesson for the ladies and I think we will only get better from it," Sullivan said.
