SATURDAY’S RESULTS l PHOTO GALLERY
It’s not easy to improve upon a first-place finish. But the Vanderbilt women’s cross country team found a way to do it.
After winning the Belmont Opener in impressive fashion two weeks ago, the No. 23-ranked Commodores went out and delivered an even more dominating effort Saturday while storming to a victory in the Commodore Classic at Percy Warner Park.
Vanderbilt had five runners finish among the top-seven in the 5K event as the Commodores once again executed their pack-running scheme to perfection. The Commodores finished with 25 points, well ahead of second-place Mississippi State (114 points) and third-place MTSU (123).
The Commodores had five runners finish in succession in the No. 3 through 7 positions. Carmen Carlos was the top finisher for Vanderbilt, taking third place with a time of 17:15.4. She was followed by teammates Sara Barron (fourth at 17:17.5), Claire Benjamin (fifth at 17:21.5), Amira Joseph (sixth at 17:21.6) and Katherine Delaney (seventh at 17:22.0).
Vanessa Valentine was the next Commodore to cross the line, finishing 11th with a time of 17:27.16. Then came another tightly-bunched collection of Vanderbilt runners, who claimed the No. 13 through 15 positions. The group was led by freshman Emma Abrahamson (17:27.76), who was followed directly by Rebecca Chandler (17:28.42), Lily Williams (17:28.55).
Reagan Anderson took 21st at 17:43.84, Megan Huebner was 25th at 17:48.20, Hannah Jumper was was 27th at 17.52.05 and Courtney Kriegshauser was 49th at 18:20.28.
Head coach Steve Keith and Rhonda Riley both praised the Commodores for executing their pre-race plan in terms of maintaining the mindset of “finishing with a teammate.” (See interviews with Keith and Riley below).
The Vanderbilt men finished 13th in the 8k race. John Ewing led the Commodores with a time of 26.00.99 for a 59th place finish.
Nick French finished second among the Vanderbilt runners with a time of 26:15.28 in 70th place, and teammate Jake Van Geffen was right behind him in 71st place at 26:15.87. Andrew Fix posted a time of 27:07.68.
The Vanderbilt men and women will be off next weekend before traveling to Minnesota for the Roy Griak Invitational on Sept. 27.
