Sept. 19, 2015
Event: Commodore Classic
Day, Date: Saturday, Sept. 19
Host: Vanderbilt
Site: Percy Warner Park
Results: HERE
The Vanderbilt women’s cross country team emerged from Saturday’s meet feeling pleased with where they are — and even more excited about where they can go.
Paced by a pair of freshmen, Caroline Pietrzyk and Sara Tsai, the No. 22-ranked Commodores sailed to an impressive second-place finish against a talent-rich field of schools at the Commodore Classic at Percy Warner Park. The meet, which was Vanderbilt’s lone home event of the season, featured 11 teams who appear in the latest USTFCCCA regional rankings, including the South Region’s top-ranked Commodores.
Pietrzyk finished third overall in the 5k race with a time of 17:04.8 and further established herself as a rising star for Vanderbilt. The freshman from Malibu Calif., has now been VU’s top finisher in each of her first two college races. She paced the Commodores — and took second place overall — at the Belmont Opener two weeks ago.
Pietrzyk was joined in the Top-15 on Saturday by Tsai, who delivered a strong debut for the Commodores. Tsai, who was held out of the Belmont Opener due to illness, posted a time of 17:27.2 and took 14th place.
Vanessa Valentine was the third Commodore across the line, finishing 23rd at 17:40.4. She was followed by Regan Anderson, who was 25th at 17:42.8, and Megan Huebner in 38th at 17:51.0.
Vanderbilt head coach Steve Keith and associate head coach Rhonda Riley each said they were pleased with the manner in which the Commodores handled the stiff early-season challenge, and said they were excited about the contributions the younger athletes are already making. (See bottom of the page for video interviews with both coaches).
The meet, which was held on a steamy day in Nashville, was part of Parent and Family Weekend at Vanderbilt, and the large group of Commodore supporters who turned out for the meet were treated to a host of impressive showings throughout the morning — not only by the home team but the out-of-town guests, too.
Michigan’s Erin Finn cruised to a first-place finish with a time of 16:43.4, and three of her teammates joined her in the top 10 to help the No. 12-ranked Wolverines win the meet with 39 points. Vanderbilt finished second with 92 points, Mississippi State was third with 95, Lipscomb was fourth with 97 and Ole Miss was fifth with 115.
For Vanderbilt, Lily Williams was 40th at 17:52.6 and Sara Barron was 46th at 17:55.5. Also competing for the Commodore among the crowded field of roughly 250 runners were Devon Grisbaum (18:14.4), Ginger Hutton (18:30.3), Katherine Delaney (18:39.1) and Rebecca Jacobson (18:40.5).
Vanderbilt’s next action will be in two weeks, when the Commodores travel to South Bend, Ind., for the Notre Dame Invitational.
VANDERBILT MEN
Competing against a field of teams that included seven squads who appear in the latest USTFCCCA regional rankings, the Vanderbilt men ran to a 14th-place finish during Saturday’s 8k race.
Jake Van Geffen led the way for the Commodores, finishing 72nd at 26:27.4, and freshman Jason Vincze was 80th at 26:35.0.
Rounding out the top-five for Vanderbilt were Nick French (100th overall) at 26:53.9, Evan Suzman (120) at 27:15.0 and Caleb Casolaro (158) at 27:58.7.
Also representing Vanderbilt were Sam DeFabrizio, who finished with a time of 28:18.1, Waqqas Fazili (28:24.4) and Daniel Arthur (28:30.6).
Vanderbilt’s next action will be in two weeks, when the Commodores travel to South Bend, Ind., for the Notre Dame Invitational.
TEAM SCORES — WOMEN
1. Michigan – 39
2. Vanderbilt – 92
3. Miss. State – 95
4. Lipscomb – 97
5. Ole Miss – 115
6. Ohio State – 161
7. Clemson – 189
8. Belmont – 278
9. Louisville – 307
10. Georgia Tech – 308
11. Davidson – 314
12. SE Missouri – 343
13. Memphis – 413
14. Samford – 422
15. Murray State – 460
16. Tennessee Tech – 486
17. UAB – 487
18. Marshall – 514
19. Alabama State – 527
20. Evansville – 605
21. Alabama A&M – 700
VANDERBILT RESULTS
3. Caroline Peitrzyk – 17:04.8
14. Sara Tsai – 17:27.2
23. Vanessa Valentine – 17:40.4
25. Reagan Anderson – 17:42.8
38. Megan Huebner – 17:51.0
40. Lily Williams – 17:52.6
46. Sara Barron – 17:55.5
63. Devon Grisbaum – 18:14.4
91. Ginger Hutton – 18:30.3
101. Katherine Delaney – 18:39.1
102. Rebecca Jacobson – 18:40.5
TEAM SCORES — MEN
1. Louisville – 53
2. Ohio State – 68
3. MTSU – 111
4. Georgia Tech – 129
5. Lipscomb – 133
6. Clemson – 162
7. Samford – 192
8. Tennessee – 220
9. Ole Miss – 227
10. Miss. State – 243
11. Davidson – 275
12. SE Missouri – 300
13. Belmont – 301
14. Vanderbilt – 427
15. Murray State – 434
16. Tennessee Tech – 435
17. Memphis – 461
18. Marshall – 462
19. Alabama State – 600
20. Evansville – 651
VANDERBILT RESULTS
72. Jake Van Geffen – 26:27.4
80. Jason Vincze – 26:35.0
100. Nick French – 26:53.9
120. Evan Suzman – 27:15.0
158. Caleb Casolaro – 27:58.7
164. Sam DeFabrizio – 28:18.1
168. Waqqas Fazili – 28:24.4
171. Dan Arthur – 28:30.6
