University of Memphis Athletics
Saturday, September 19
Nashville, Tenn.
9 am CT
University of Memphis
at
Commodore Classic
Tigers Cross Country Runs In Saturday's Commodore Classic
Sep 19, 2015 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country
Rodriguez Sala sets personal-best 5k time, finishes 16th.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – University of Memphis junior Martina Rodriguez Sala set a career-best 5k time and posted a top-20 finish at Vanderbilt University's Commodore Classic Saturday. For the men, senior Corentin Louis was Memphis' top finisher.
The women's squad placed 13th, and the men were 17th. Saturday's Commodore Classic was extremely competitive, as 18 teams (men and women combined) ranked in the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) regional polls ran in the meet.
Rodriguez Sala placed 16th with a time of 17:30.6. It was her best finish at the Commodore Classic, improving on her 22nd-place performance in the event a year ago. Her 17:30.6 set a personal-best 5k time, eclipsing her previous-best of 17:51.83 at the 2014 Commodore Classic.
Sophomore Chelsea Ladd (94th; 19:14.6) and junior Abigail Tankersley (96th; 19:17.3) were Memphis' next two finishers. Sophomore Meghan Christensen finished in a personal-best 5k time of 19:37.0. Christensen's previous-best time of 19:55.87 was set at the 2014 Brooks Twilight Classic.
"Martina ran a great race and competed well," said Tigers head coach Kevin Robinson. "Our women grouped better today and competed with everything they had.
"Physically, they are tired. But, mentally, the women showed much more composure and strength than they did in our season-opening race at the (Brooks) Twilight Classic. That's a good sign moving forward, especially when we add (2014 All-American Athletic Conference performer) Kristen (Adams) back in the mix."
Sophomore Kristen Adams sat out the second-straight meet with an injury.
On the men's side, Louis recorded his best 8k time in a Tigers uniform, finishing 79th in 26:38.8. His time at Saturday's Commodore Classic just edged out his previous 8k best at Memphis which was 26:39 at last year's American Athletic Conference Championships.
Senior Stephen Tankersley, competing for the first time in 2015, was the Tigers' second finisher. He placed 90th in a time of 27:05.3. Sophomore James Durkin (95th; 27:17.7) and freshman Kaleb Simington (96th; 27:30.4) rounded out Memphis' top-four runners.
Prior to the race, freshman Diego Lara Delgado was taken out of the lineup due to an injury. Lara Delgado was the men's second finisher at the season-opening Brooks Twilight Classic Sept. 5.
"This was a tough race for our guys," said Robinson. "Just before we started, I had to pull Diego because of an injury. I was disappointed in the final result, but our guys ran hard and I was pleased with their effort."
Memphis returns to action Saturday, Sept. 26 when it competes in the Rhodes College Invitational. Both men's and women's races will be held at Shelby Farms.
Memphis Individual Results
Women (top 5 count in team score) – 13th (score of 413)
16. Martina Rodriguez Sala 17:30.6
94. Chelsea Ladd 19:14.6
96. Abigail Tankersley 19:17.3
100. Megan Briley 19:21.9
107. Meghan Christensen 19:37.0
109. Melinda Murdock 19:39.2
112. Lauren Wheeler 19:59.6
Men (top 5 count in team score) – 17th (score of 461)
79. Corentin Louis 26:38.8
90. Stephen Tankersley 27:05.3
95. James Durkin 27:17.7
96. Kaleb Simington 27:30.4
101. Brandon Keys 27:35.8
102. Godfrey Fayne Jr. 27:37.5
108. Brock Ballard 27:53.9
The women's squad placed 13th, and the men were 17th. Saturday's Commodore Classic was extremely competitive, as 18 teams (men and women combined) ranked in the United States Track and Field/Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) regional polls ran in the meet.
Rodriguez Sala placed 16th with a time of 17:30.6. It was her best finish at the Commodore Classic, improving on her 22nd-place performance in the event a year ago. Her 17:30.6 set a personal-best 5k time, eclipsing her previous-best of 17:51.83 at the 2014 Commodore Classic.
Sophomore Chelsea Ladd (94th; 19:14.6) and junior Abigail Tankersley (96th; 19:17.3) were Memphis' next two finishers. Sophomore Meghan Christensen finished in a personal-best 5k time of 19:37.0. Christensen's previous-best time of 19:55.87 was set at the 2014 Brooks Twilight Classic.
"Martina ran a great race and competed well," said Tigers head coach Kevin Robinson. "Our women grouped better today and competed with everything they had.
"Physically, they are tired. But, mentally, the women showed much more composure and strength than they did in our season-opening race at the (Brooks) Twilight Classic. That's a good sign moving forward, especially when we add (2014 All-American Athletic Conference performer) Kristen (Adams) back in the mix."
Sophomore Kristen Adams sat out the second-straight meet with an injury.
On the men's side, Louis recorded his best 8k time in a Tigers uniform, finishing 79th in 26:38.8. His time at Saturday's Commodore Classic just edged out his previous 8k best at Memphis which was 26:39 at last year's American Athletic Conference Championships.
Senior Stephen Tankersley, competing for the first time in 2015, was the Tigers' second finisher. He placed 90th in a time of 27:05.3. Sophomore James Durkin (95th; 27:17.7) and freshman Kaleb Simington (96th; 27:30.4) rounded out Memphis' top-four runners.
Prior to the race, freshman Diego Lara Delgado was taken out of the lineup due to an injury. Lara Delgado was the men's second finisher at the season-opening Brooks Twilight Classic Sept. 5.
"This was a tough race for our guys," said Robinson. "Just before we started, I had to pull Diego because of an injury. I was disappointed in the final result, but our guys ran hard and I was pleased with their effort."
Memphis returns to action Saturday, Sept. 26 when it competes in the Rhodes College Invitational. Both men's and women's races will be held at Shelby Farms.
Memphis Individual Results
Women (top 5 count in team score) – 13th (score of 413)
16. Martina Rodriguez Sala 17:30.6
94. Chelsea Ladd 19:14.6
96. Abigail Tankersley 19:17.3
100. Megan Briley 19:21.9
107. Meghan Christensen 19:37.0
109. Melinda Murdock 19:39.2
112. Lauren Wheeler 19:59.6
Men (top 5 count in team score) – 17th (score of 461)
79. Corentin Louis 26:38.8
90. Stephen Tankersley 27:05.3
95. James Durkin 27:17.7
96. Kaleb Simington 27:30.4
101. Brandon Keys 27:35.8
102. Godfrey Fayne Jr. 27:37.5
108. Brock Ballard 27:53.9
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
/ Men's Cross Country
/ Women's Cross Country
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