University of Memphis Athletics
Saturday, September 24
Clarksville, Tenn.
9 am
University of Memphis
at
Austin Peay Invitational
Photo by: Steve Austell
Tigers Cross Country To Run At Austin Peay Saturday
Sep 23, 2016 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Action starts at 9 a.m. (CT).
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – For the first time this season, the University of Memphis men's and women's cross country squads are leaving the Bluff City area to run. However, the Tigers aren't traveling far.
Memphis hits the road for a three-hour bus ride to Clarksville, Tenn., to compete in the 2016 Austin Peay Invitational Saturday. The women's 5k race starts at 9 a.m. (CT), with the men's four-mile run to follow at 9:30 a.m. (CT).
The men's and women's teams both have had strong starts to 2016, posting top-six finishes in each of the first two meets. Last Saturday, the Tigers swept the Rhodes College Invitational men's and women's team crowns. As a result of its two top-four performances, the Memphis women's team earned the program's first U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCA) regional ranking. The Tigers are No. 12 in this week's USTFCCCA South Region poll.
Head coach Kevin Robinson and distance assistant coach Ken Frenette, though, are changing things up a bit for the women's squad for Saturday's Austin Peay Invitational.
"We're treating this Saturday's meet a little differently on the women's side," Robinson said. "I'm going to sit my top-six runners and give them some rest. My hope is that the rest will help them as they prepare for the Louisville meet next Saturday. The Louisville meet is going to be our first true test of the season.
"We'll run our next group Saturday. They're all fighting for spots to compete in the postseason. We still expect to go in with the mentality to win the meet, but it will be without running our top six. I'm excited to see how that other group competes."
That means no Martina Rodriguez Sala running Saturday. The Tigers senior is a two-time American Athletic Conference Female Runner of the Week honoree this season, and she won the Rhodes College Invitational women's title last week. Also not competing Saturday are juniors Chelsea Ladd and Bailey Kennemer, both of whom have had strong showings early.
The Tigers men's team is having all nine runners compete Saturday.
"We're running everybody on the men's side," said Robinson. "I expect to continue to grow, compete well and challenge each other.
"Our men's team is beginning to come together. I feel good where the men's team is right now, but we still have room for improvement. Our men's squad will not run at Louisville next Saturday (Oct. 1), but will return to action when we head to Alabama in mid-October."
Junior college transfer Julian Sanchez-Pinto and sophomore Matthew Viveiros have led the Tigers' charge on the men's side. Sanchez Pinto has been the Tigers' top finisher in the first two meets and placed second at last week's Rhodes College Invitational. Viveiros was the second Tiger to cross the finish line in both races, including a third-place performance last Saturday.
Memphis hits the road for a three-hour bus ride to Clarksville, Tenn., to compete in the 2016 Austin Peay Invitational Saturday. The women's 5k race starts at 9 a.m. (CT), with the men's four-mile run to follow at 9:30 a.m. (CT).
The men's and women's teams both have had strong starts to 2016, posting top-six finishes in each of the first two meets. Last Saturday, the Tigers swept the Rhodes College Invitational men's and women's team crowns. As a result of its two top-four performances, the Memphis women's team earned the program's first U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Association (USTFCCA) regional ranking. The Tigers are No. 12 in this week's USTFCCCA South Region poll.
Head coach Kevin Robinson and distance assistant coach Ken Frenette, though, are changing things up a bit for the women's squad for Saturday's Austin Peay Invitational.
"We're treating this Saturday's meet a little differently on the women's side," Robinson said. "I'm going to sit my top-six runners and give them some rest. My hope is that the rest will help them as they prepare for the Louisville meet next Saturday. The Louisville meet is going to be our first true test of the season.
"We'll run our next group Saturday. They're all fighting for spots to compete in the postseason. We still expect to go in with the mentality to win the meet, but it will be without running our top six. I'm excited to see how that other group competes."
That means no Martina Rodriguez Sala running Saturday. The Tigers senior is a two-time American Athletic Conference Female Runner of the Week honoree this season, and she won the Rhodes College Invitational women's title last week. Also not competing Saturday are juniors Chelsea Ladd and Bailey Kennemer, both of whom have had strong showings early.
The Tigers men's team is having all nine runners compete Saturday.
"We're running everybody on the men's side," said Robinson. "I expect to continue to grow, compete well and challenge each other.
"Our men's team is beginning to come together. I feel good where the men's team is right now, but we still have room for improvement. Our men's squad will not run at Louisville next Saturday (Oct. 1), but will return to action when we head to Alabama in mid-October."
Junior college transfer Julian Sanchez-Pinto and sophomore Matthew Viveiros have led the Tigers' charge on the men's side. Sanchez Pinto has been the Tigers' top finisher in the first two meets and placed second at last week's Rhodes College Invitational. Viveiros was the second Tiger to cross the finish line in both races, including a third-place performance last Saturday.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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