University of Memphis Athletics
Saturday, October 18
Terre Haute, Ind.
University of Memphis
at
Pre-NCAA Championship
Memphis Cross Country Ventures to Indiana for Pre-Nationals
Oct 17, 2014 | Women's Cross Country
Tigers set to compete at the Indiana State Pre-National Invitational on Saturday
TERRE HAUTE, Ind.- After a three week lay-off, the University of Memphis cross country squads return to action, on Saturday, at the Pre-National Invitational hosted by Indiana State University. The meet will be the most competitive for the Tigers thus far in the 2014 season.
The Pre Nationals will feature 158 teams and over 1,600 athletes competing in six races this Saturday.
"I think that this race is obviously a huge competitive experience for the teams," said Head Coach Kevin Robinson. "It gives us a chance to compete against some of the best runners in the country. It's going to be an eye-opening experience for a few of them. I feel like we are ready to compete. We have a couple of people sick and a few injured and we're not going to be able to put our best possible team on the line this weekend, but those that are getting the opportunity to run are getting experience. We expect a very highly competitive effort. The group that will be competing is ready to go and just excited for the opportunity."
Action begins on the women's side. The Lady Tigers will run in the White 6K race set for 12:15 p.m. (CT) and the 6K Open race at 1:30 p.m. (CT).
The men's squad will follow behind the women and will run in the White 8K race beginning at 12:50 p.m. (CT) and the 8K Open race at 2:05 p.m. (CT).
Michigan, the top ranked team in the nation and top ranked team in the Great Lakes Region, will lead 41 teams into the women's blue race. Four of the top 10 teams from the 2013 NCAA Championship will be on hand including Butler (third), Michigan (fourth), Georgetown (fifth), and Colorado (seventh).
Colorado won the men's blue race at the 2013 Pre Nationals and went on to claim the 2013 NCAA Championship. The Rockies return this year along with the Oregon Ducks who finished fifth at the 2013 Nationals. Colorado currently leads the Mountain Region and Oregon is the top team in the West. A total of 43 of the top regionally ranked teams will be on hand for the competition this Saturday.
The race will be run on the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center in eastern Vigo County, which will play host to the 2014 NCAA Men's and Women's Division I Cross Country Championship on November 22, 2014.
Results from the event will posted on GoTigersGo.com as they are made available.
Last Time Out
The Tigers last competed at the Rhodes College Invitational run at Shelby Farms in Memphis, Tenn. on Sept. 27. The women's team placed first overall in the 6K, with the men taking second in the 8K.
Kristen Adams and Martina Rodriguez-Sala were the top two finishers for the women, with Adams taking second with a time of 21:44.60 and Rodriguez-Sala crossing the line fourth at 22:26.20.
Dan Kuhman was the top finisher for the men, taking third place with a time of 25:13.90. Drew Austell finished sixth with a time of 25:55.30.
The first place finish by the women was their third in the last four years at the Rhodes College Invitational; the men's second place finish was their fourth straight year that they have finished in the top two.
Up Next for the Tigers
The Tigers will next compete at the inaugural American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship. The event will be held on Oct. 31, in Tulsa, Okla.
For more information on the University of Memphis cross country/track and field program follow the Tigers on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MemphisTrack), Twitter (MemTigersTF_XC) and Instagram (Memphis_TF_XC).
The Pre Nationals will feature 158 teams and over 1,600 athletes competing in six races this Saturday.
"I think that this race is obviously a huge competitive experience for the teams," said Head Coach Kevin Robinson. "It gives us a chance to compete against some of the best runners in the country. It's going to be an eye-opening experience for a few of them. I feel like we are ready to compete. We have a couple of people sick and a few injured and we're not going to be able to put our best possible team on the line this weekend, but those that are getting the opportunity to run are getting experience. We expect a very highly competitive effort. The group that will be competing is ready to go and just excited for the opportunity."
Action begins on the women's side. The Lady Tigers will run in the White 6K race set for 12:15 p.m. (CT) and the 6K Open race at 1:30 p.m. (CT).
The men's squad will follow behind the women and will run in the White 8K race beginning at 12:50 p.m. (CT) and the 8K Open race at 2:05 p.m. (CT).
Michigan, the top ranked team in the nation and top ranked team in the Great Lakes Region, will lead 41 teams into the women's blue race. Four of the top 10 teams from the 2013 NCAA Championship will be on hand including Butler (third), Michigan (fourth), Georgetown (fifth), and Colorado (seventh).
Colorado won the men's blue race at the 2013 Pre Nationals and went on to claim the 2013 NCAA Championship. The Rockies return this year along with the Oregon Ducks who finished fifth at the 2013 Nationals. Colorado currently leads the Mountain Region and Oregon is the top team in the West. A total of 43 of the top regionally ranked teams will be on hand for the competition this Saturday.
The race will be run on the LaVern Gibson Championship Cross Country Course at the Wabash Valley Family Sports Center in eastern Vigo County, which will play host to the 2014 NCAA Men's and Women's Division I Cross Country Championship on November 22, 2014.
Results from the event will posted on GoTigersGo.com as they are made available.
Last Time Out
The Tigers last competed at the Rhodes College Invitational run at Shelby Farms in Memphis, Tenn. on Sept. 27. The women's team placed first overall in the 6K, with the men taking second in the 8K.
Kristen Adams and Martina Rodriguez-Sala were the top two finishers for the women, with Adams taking second with a time of 21:44.60 and Rodriguez-Sala crossing the line fourth at 22:26.20.
Dan Kuhman was the top finisher for the men, taking third place with a time of 25:13.90. Drew Austell finished sixth with a time of 25:55.30.
The first place finish by the women was their third in the last four years at the Rhodes College Invitational; the men's second place finish was their fourth straight year that they have finished in the top two.
Up Next for the Tigers
The Tigers will next compete at the inaugural American Athletic Conference Cross Country Championship. The event will be held on Oct. 31, in Tulsa, Okla.
For more information on the University of Memphis cross country/track and field program follow the Tigers on Facebook (www.facebook.com/MemphisTrack), Twitter (MemTigersTF_XC) and Instagram (Memphis_TF_XC).
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
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