Cross Country To Run In Rhodes College Invitational Saturday

Saturday, September 26

Memphis, Tenn.

8:30 am CT

University of Memphis

Rhodes College Invitational

Cross Country To Run In Rhodes College Invitational Saturday

Sep 24, 2015 | Men's Cross Country, Women's Cross Country

Races start at 8:30 a.m. (CT) at Shelby Farms

MEMPHIS, Tenn. – For the second time this month, the University of Memphis men's and women's cross country squads run a meet in the Bluff City, this time competing in the 25^th-annual Rhodes College Invitational Saturday morning. Earlier this month, the Tigers opened the 2015 campaign at the Brooks Twilight Classic, which was held at the Mike Rose Soccer Complex.

Shelby Farms is the host site for Saturday's Rhodes College Invitational. The men's 8k race begins at 8:30 a.m. (CT), with the women's 6k to follow at 9:40 a.m. (CT).

"Being able to run another race in the city is great for us," said head coach Kevin Robinson. "Our athletes will be able to run in front of friends and family, and the entire track and field teams can come out and support us. It's always a great opportunity to run a race in town, and everyone is looking forward to it."

Saturday's meet is the second in as many weeks for Memphis. The Tigers ran in last Saturday's Commodore Classic in Nashville, giving both squads only seven days between races to recover and prepare.

"It's a quick turnaround for us," Robinson said. "We usually don't run on back-to-back weekends, but this season, that's the way the schedule fell. With the short time between races, we have to alter our training a little to help the teams recover."

Both Memphis teams have run well in recent Rhodes College Invitationals. The women's squad enters Saturday's meet as the invitational's defending champion. Memphis also placed first in the 2011 and 2012 Rhodes College Invitational and finished third in 2013. The last women's individual champion was Louisa Lingley in 2012.

At the 2014 meet, the Tigers women's team won the title with all five runners placing in the top-20. Kristen Adams led the way with a second-place finish, followed by Martina Rodriguez Sala in fourth, Chelsea Ladd in sixth, Megan Briley in 14^th and Melinda Murdock in 19^th.

All five runners are expected to compete Saturday, including Adams making her season debut after sitting out the team's first two meets due to injury.

"Kristen is doing really well," said Robinson. "She's been running for two weeks pain-free. She's so excited to get back at it that now it's a matter of holding her back a little because she's so fired up and ready to get after it.

"The addition of Kristen back in the lineup is going to have a big impact on our team's performance. Getting Kristen back is a huge boost for our team. Hopefully her return will energize our team and give it a spark."

The men's squad has been just as successful in its recent Rhodes College Invitational appearances. The Tigers won the invitational crown three-straight years from 2011-13 and finished second in 2014. The last time a Tiger captured the men's individual title was in 2012 when James Maglasang crossed the finish line first. Maglasang's 2012 individual championship was his third straight, also winning titles in 2010 and 2011.

In last season's race, Stephen Tankersley crossed the finish line in 11^th place, with James Durkin in 19^th place.

Tankersley and Durkin are expected to run this Saturday, but for Tankersley, it is only his second meet of 2014. The senior sat out the season-opening Brooks Twilight Classic Sept. 5. Memphis hopes to see the return of freshman Diego Lara Delgado Saturday. At last weekend's Commodore Classic, Lara Delgado was pulled from competition due to injury just prior to the start of the race.