University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Steve Austell
Women's Cross Country To Face Tough Field Saturday
Sep 30, 2016 | Women's Cross Country
Memphis running in Gold Race at the Greater Louisville Classic.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – Coaches believe, for their teams to be the best, they have to compete against the best. That's what the University of Memphis women's cross country team is facing Saturday when it runs in the Greater Louisville Classic.
The Tigers are scheduled to run in the 5k Gold Race that starts at 9:15 a.m. (CT). Tom Sawyer Park, the site of the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships, is hosting Saturday's event.
"It's been a couple of years since we've run this course at Louisville," said head coach Kevin Robinson. "It's also been a couple of years since I felt we had a team that could compete on this course.
"We've been accepted into the Gold Race, which will be one of the most-competitive races in the nation this season. It gives us a chance to see how we stack up against some of the nation's top teams. I'm excited about the opportunity."
The Memphis women's squad has started strong in 2016 with three top-five team finishes in as many events. In their last two races, the Tigers won titles at the Rhodes College Invitational Sept. 17 and Austin Peay Invitational Sept. 24. It is the first time a Memphis women's team won two meets in the same season since 1990.
The Tigers placed fourth at the season-opening Brooks Twilight Classic Sept. 3.
As a result of its early-season performances, the Memphis women's team earned the program's first United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)/NCAA Division I regional ranking Sept. 21. The Tigers were ranked No. 12 in last week's South Region poll. This week, Memphis moved up one spot to No. 11.
Although Memphis competed in last Saturday's Austin Peay Invitational, Robinson took a different approach at that meet.
"Last weekend, we went to Austin Peay, and it proved to be a challenging course," Robinson said. "Despite some missteps, we managed to win both races (men and women).
"An interesting point on the women's race was that we didn't run our top-seven runners from our first two events. We wanted to give those top-seven a chance to rest and recover to prepare for this Saturday's race in Louisville, which is going to be very competitive. Those that ran at Austin Peay performed well."
Leading the way for Memphis are senior Martina Rodriguez Sala and junior Chelsea Ladd. Both posted top-10 finishes in the season's first two races, and Rodriguez Sala won the Rhodes College Invitational women's title. Rodriguez Sala also earned American Athletic Conference Female Runner of the Week honors twice this season.
Arnica Zitting, Bailey Kennemer and Mary Betsy Minkler rounded out the Tigers' top-five in the season's first two races.
"We've established our top-nine at this point, and there are some still battling behind them," said Robinson. "Our runners are competitive, but they are a close-knit group that supports and encourages each other. Our runners are hungry and motivated. We just have to remain healthy."
The Tigers are scheduled to run in the 5k Gold Race that starts at 9:15 a.m. (CT). Tom Sawyer Park, the site of the 2017 NCAA Cross Country Championships, is hosting Saturday's event.
"It's been a couple of years since we've run this course at Louisville," said head coach Kevin Robinson. "It's also been a couple of years since I felt we had a team that could compete on this course.
"We've been accepted into the Gold Race, which will be one of the most-competitive races in the nation this season. It gives us a chance to see how we stack up against some of the nation's top teams. I'm excited about the opportunity."
The Memphis women's squad has started strong in 2016 with three top-five team finishes in as many events. In their last two races, the Tigers won titles at the Rhodes College Invitational Sept. 17 and Austin Peay Invitational Sept. 24. It is the first time a Memphis women's team won two meets in the same season since 1990.
The Tigers placed fourth at the season-opening Brooks Twilight Classic Sept. 3.
As a result of its early-season performances, the Memphis women's team earned the program's first United States Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA)/NCAA Division I regional ranking Sept. 21. The Tigers were ranked No. 12 in last week's South Region poll. This week, Memphis moved up one spot to No. 11.
Although Memphis competed in last Saturday's Austin Peay Invitational, Robinson took a different approach at that meet.
"Last weekend, we went to Austin Peay, and it proved to be a challenging course," Robinson said. "Despite some missteps, we managed to win both races (men and women).
"An interesting point on the women's race was that we didn't run our top-seven runners from our first two events. We wanted to give those top-seven a chance to rest and recover to prepare for this Saturday's race in Louisville, which is going to be very competitive. Those that ran at Austin Peay performed well."
Leading the way for Memphis are senior Martina Rodriguez Sala and junior Chelsea Ladd. Both posted top-10 finishes in the season's first two races, and Rodriguez Sala won the Rhodes College Invitational women's title. Rodriguez Sala also earned American Athletic Conference Female Runner of the Week honors twice this season.
Arnica Zitting, Bailey Kennemer and Mary Betsy Minkler rounded out the Tigers' top-five in the season's first two races.
"We've established our top-nine at this point, and there are some still battling behind them," said Robinson. "Our runners are competitive, but they are a close-knit group that supports and encourages each other. Our runners are hungry and motivated. We just have to remain healthy."
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
Wolfchase Toyota Insider: Cross Country
Wednesday, October 12
Wolfchase Toyota Insider: Cross Country
Thursday, September 29