University of Memphis Athletics
Photo by: Steve Austell
Cross Country To Run In Friday's Crimson Classic
Oct 12, 2017 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Teams using races to prepare for Oct. 28 league championships.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis cross country squads travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for Friday's Crimson Classic in what can be seen as two dress rehearsals for the Tigers' 2017 postseason.
The Crimson Classic races are set for Harry Pritchett Running Course, which has hosted numerous Southeastern Conference and NCAA regional championships.
Friday's races are the final tune-ups before Memphis battles for the American Athletic Conference Championships in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 28.
The Crimson Classic also gives the Tigers a preview of the course they'll run for the 2017 NCAA South Region Championships. The NCAA races are scheduled for the same site – Harry Pritchett Running Course – Nov. 10.
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Crimson Classic Schedule
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Competing Schools
Men (29): Alabama, Alabama State, Auburn, Belmont, Chattanooga, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, LeMoyne-Owen, Lipscomb, Louisiana Tech, LSU, Memphis, Mercer, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, North Florida, Oklahoma, Samford, South Alabama, Southeastern Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M, Troy, UT Arlington, UT Martin, UT Rio Grande Valley, Vanderbilt
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Women (31): Alabama, Alabama State, Auburn, Belmont, Chattanooga, Florida State, Georgia Southern Georgia Tech, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, LeMoyne-Owen, Lipscomb, LSU, Memphis, Mercer, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, North Florida, Oklahoma, Samford, South Alabama, South Carolina, Southeastern Louisiana, Southern Miss, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M, Troy, UAB, UT Arlington, UT Martin, UT Rio Grande Valley
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Head coach Kevin Robinson comments
(On Friday's races)
"We're coming off an off-week where we were able to train, rest and recover. The Crimson Classic provides a challenging course and challenging competition. It is our last major tune-up before the conference championships later this month.
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"At this point, I'm looking for strong races, competitive maturity and our runners to put up solid performances. I want our runners to compete like they are ready for the conference championships. The expectations are high, and it's that time of the season where everyone has to step up and perform."
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(On running at site of 2017 NCAA regional meet)
"There is a little additional excitement running on a championship-caliber course, and there's also a high level of competition. There are multiple reasons for our runners to be highly-motivated for this race."
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Tigers Tidbits
Up Next
The Tigers get an off-week from competition (Oct. 21) to prepare for the Oct. 28 American Athletic Conference Championships in Philadelphia, Pa.
The Crimson Classic races are set for Harry Pritchett Running Course, which has hosted numerous Southeastern Conference and NCAA regional championships.
Friday's races are the final tune-ups before Memphis battles for the American Athletic Conference Championships in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 28.
The Crimson Classic also gives the Tigers a preview of the course they'll run for the 2017 NCAA South Region Championships. The NCAA races are scheduled for the same site – Harry Pritchett Running Course – Nov. 10.
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Crimson Classic Schedule
| Time (CT) | Race | Distance |
| 9 a.m. | Men | 8k |
| 9:45 a.m. | Women | 6k |
Competing Schools
Men (29): Alabama, Alabama State, Auburn, Belmont, Chattanooga, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, LeMoyne-Owen, Lipscomb, Louisiana Tech, LSU, Memphis, Mercer, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, North Florida, Oklahoma, Samford, South Alabama, Southeastern Louisiana, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M, Troy, UT Arlington, UT Martin, UT Rio Grande Valley, Vanderbilt
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Women (31): Alabama, Alabama State, Auburn, Belmont, Chattanooga, Florida State, Georgia Southern Georgia Tech, Jacksonville State, Kennesaw State, LeMoyne-Owen, Lipscomb, LSU, Memphis, Mercer, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, North Florida, Oklahoma, Samford, South Alabama, South Carolina, Southeastern Louisiana, Southern Miss, Stephen F. Austin, Texas A&M, Troy, UAB, UT Arlington, UT Martin, UT Rio Grande Valley
Â
Head coach Kevin Robinson comments
(On Friday's races)
"We're coming off an off-week where we were able to train, rest and recover. The Crimson Classic provides a challenging course and challenging competition. It is our last major tune-up before the conference championships later this month.
Â
"At this point, I'm looking for strong races, competitive maturity and our runners to put up solid performances. I want our runners to compete like they are ready for the conference championships. The expectations are high, and it's that time of the season where everyone has to step up and perform."
Â
(On running at site of 2017 NCAA regional meet)
"There is a little additional excitement running on a championship-caliber course, and there's also a high level of competition. There are multiple reasons for our runners to be highly-motivated for this race."
Â
Tigers Tidbits
- The Tigers are running on a Friday, which is rare in collegiate cross country. But even more rare is that Memphis is racing on a Friday the 13th. Since 1988, the Tigers have run only twice on a Friday the 13th, and those races were the Ole Miss Invitational in 1991 (Sept. 13) and the NCAA South Region Championships in 2015 (Nov. 13).
- Friday's 6k race is the first for the Tigers women's squad in 2017. The team's previous four races all were 5k. The Oct. 29 American Athletic Conference Championships course also is a 6k race.
- On the men's side, Memphis runs an 8k course for the third time this season. The Tigers also ran 8k races at the Rhodes College Invitational Sept. 16 and Greater Louisville Classic Sept. 30.
- Friday is only the second time this season that Memphis races following an off-week from competition. The Tigers had a break between the Sept. 2 Brooks Twilight Classic and Sept. 16 Rhodes College Invitational. Starting with that Sept. 16 run, Memphis competed three-straight weeks.
- The Tigers are running in their third-straight Crimson Classic Friday. Last season, the women's squad placed sixth in the 6k race, and the men's team was 21st in the 8k run.
- Megan Briley, Gabrielle Byndas, Bailey Kennemer, Mary Betsy Minkler, Paige Sandwell, Lauren Wheeler and Arnica Zitting all ran in last year's Crimson Classic.
- Arnica Zitting was the team's third-highest finisher, crossing the line in 26th place.
- Bailey Kennemer ran a 6k personal-best time of 21:53.6 at last year's Crimson Classic.
- On the men's side, Brock Ballard, LaForrest Church, James Durkin, Joshua Hamlet, Matthew Kamph, Julian Sanchez-Pinto and Matthew Viveiros all ran in the 2016 Crimson Classic.
- Matthew Viveiros was the Tigers' top finisher in 38th place.
Up Next
The Tigers get an off-week from competition (Oct. 21) to prepare for the Oct. 28 American Athletic Conference Championships in Philadelphia, Pa.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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