University of Memphis Athletics
Saturday, October 31
Greenville, N.C.
University of Memphis
vs
American Athletic Conference Championships
Photo by: Steve Austell
Tigers Cross Country Heads To League Championships Saturday
Oct 29, 2015 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Conference meet to be held in Greenville, N.C.
Follow all the American Athletic Conference Cros Country Championships action on below links
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MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis men's and women's cross country squads are the first Tigers teams to enter postseason action when both run at the 2015 American Athletic Conference Championships Saturday, Oct. 31.
East Carolina is hosting the league's championships at Lake Kristi, the Pirates' home course located eight miles outside of Greenville, N.C. In the past, the site has hosted the NCAA Southeast Regional (2003, 2005) and Conference USA Championships (2001, 2006).
Although he hasn't taken a team to this course recently, head coach Kevin Robinson recalls how immaculate the course is maintained.
It's a place I'd consider retiring to," Robinson said. "It's the most-manicured, well-kept area I've seen. It's absolutely beautiful. It's nice to run at a place like East Carolina has, but our focus in on the meet itself.
"The race is run on a golf course that is very flat. It is an extremely fast course, and will be a polar opposite from our last race at Alabama which had some hills and turns. This is a blazing course, so we need to be ready from the start."
The men's 8k championship starts at 9 a.m. (CT), followed by the women's race at 9:50 a.m. (CT).
While Robinson remains positive and upbeat heading into Saturday's meet, he realizes the toll injuries have taken on both squads in 2015.
"This season hasn't gone as we had hoped," said Robinson. "We've had some ups and downs. We've had some key injuries and struggled to get over them. But, at this point, it's championship season, and it's time to compete.
"What we've done in the past is irrelevant. From here on is what counts now. We need to compete to the best of our ability, compete with tenacity. We need to get out there, perform like Tigers and bring it."
The Tigers women's team has an opportunity to post a solid performance Saturday. Junior Martina Rodriguez Sala, a 2013 All-American Athletic Conference honoree, leads the women's squad, and there is hope that Kristen Adams, a 2014 All-American Athletic Conference runner, may return and compete in her first race of 2015.
"For our women's team, a top-half finish is within reach," Robinson said. "Our women's team is pretty strong with Kristen and Martina. Kristen is back and as healthy as she's been all season long, and Martina is running well for us.
"The runners behind Martina packed well the last couple of races. Our women's squad is ready to compete. My expectations for them is a top-half finish and hopefully higher."
The hopes for the men's team are not as high, and that is due primarily to all the injuries the team suffered throughout 2015. Freshman Diego Lara Delgado, who was expected to push as the squad's No. 1 runner, will not run Saturday. Senior Stephen Tankersley also has battled injuries all season long.
"For the men, we want to compete as hard as possible and finish as high as we can," said Robinson. "The men's team has suffered several key injuries this season. Our No. 2 runner won't be able to go this week.
"Our men's team is really banged up, and that will prevent us from putting our best team out there. But, we have to bear down and compete Saturday."
At last season's league championships, the Tigers men's squad placed fifth and the women were seventh.
The American Live Stream
The American Twitter
The American Instagram
The American Facebook
The American YouTube
MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The University of Memphis men's and women's cross country squads are the first Tigers teams to enter postseason action when both run at the 2015 American Athletic Conference Championships Saturday, Oct. 31.
East Carolina is hosting the league's championships at Lake Kristi, the Pirates' home course located eight miles outside of Greenville, N.C. In the past, the site has hosted the NCAA Southeast Regional (2003, 2005) and Conference USA Championships (2001, 2006).
Although he hasn't taken a team to this course recently, head coach Kevin Robinson recalls how immaculate the course is maintained.
It's a place I'd consider retiring to," Robinson said. "It's the most-manicured, well-kept area I've seen. It's absolutely beautiful. It's nice to run at a place like East Carolina has, but our focus in on the meet itself.
"The race is run on a golf course that is very flat. It is an extremely fast course, and will be a polar opposite from our last race at Alabama which had some hills and turns. This is a blazing course, so we need to be ready from the start."
The men's 8k championship starts at 9 a.m. (CT), followed by the women's race at 9:50 a.m. (CT).
While Robinson remains positive and upbeat heading into Saturday's meet, he realizes the toll injuries have taken on both squads in 2015.
"This season hasn't gone as we had hoped," said Robinson. "We've had some ups and downs. We've had some key injuries and struggled to get over them. But, at this point, it's championship season, and it's time to compete.
"What we've done in the past is irrelevant. From here on is what counts now. We need to compete to the best of our ability, compete with tenacity. We need to get out there, perform like Tigers and bring it."
The Tigers women's team has an opportunity to post a solid performance Saturday. Junior Martina Rodriguez Sala, a 2013 All-American Athletic Conference honoree, leads the women's squad, and there is hope that Kristen Adams, a 2014 All-American Athletic Conference runner, may return and compete in her first race of 2015.
"For our women's team, a top-half finish is within reach," Robinson said. "Our women's team is pretty strong with Kristen and Martina. Kristen is back and as healthy as she's been all season long, and Martina is running well for us.
"The runners behind Martina packed well the last couple of races. Our women's squad is ready to compete. My expectations for them is a top-half finish and hopefully higher."
The hopes for the men's team are not as high, and that is due primarily to all the injuries the team suffered throughout 2015. Freshman Diego Lara Delgado, who was expected to push as the squad's No. 1 runner, will not run Saturday. Senior Stephen Tankersley also has battled injuries all season long.
"For the men, we want to compete as hard as possible and finish as high as we can," said Robinson. "The men's team has suffered several key injuries this season. Our No. 2 runner won't be able to go this week.
"Our men's team is really banged up, and that will prevent us from putting our best team out there. But, we have to bear down and compete Saturday."
At last season's league championships, the Tigers men's squad placed fifth and the women were seventh.
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
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