Oct. 27, 2017
Men’s Results | Women’s Results
ATHENS, Ga. – The Vanderbilt women’s cross country team placed ninth at the SEC Championships in Athens, Georgia on Friday morning with the men’s team taking 12th place. Maddie Criscione paced the women’s team with a time of 21:15.6 while Aidan Livingston was the men’s top finisher with a time 25:40.6.
The women’s squad was paced by four runners placing in the top 50 of the always talented SEC Championship field. Criscione led the way with her 27th-place finish and a season-best time of 21:15.6.
“The women gave a good effort today,” said head coach Steve Keith. “They got out very strong but we had a little drift backwards in the second kilometer. After that they picked up some places but came up short on the team scoring. Fourth place was just 27 points different from us but but that’s cross country, you have to earn every point and just seconds can make a great difference.”
Sophomore Kendall Derry ran a personal-best with a time of 21.36.2, which was more than a minute faster than her previous PR set in her last outing at the Nuttycombe Wisconsin Invitational on Oct. 13. Derry, who opened the race in 50th after the first 965 meters, continued to move up the pack and in the last 1075 meters finished with a flourish to record her third career top-50 finish and second this season.
Senior Megan Huebner placed 36th with a time of 21:38.9 while freshman Gillian Mortimer placed 46th with a personal best of 21:50.7 in her first appearance at the SEC Championships.
Also running were: Devon Grisbaum (22:06.6), Mailin Struck (22:21.9) and Anna Grace Morgan (22:31.6), Ginger Hutton (22:33.3), Reagan Bustamante (22:34.2) and Kacie Breeding (22:52.5). The entire Vanderbilt women’s team placed in the top 100 and there were six PRs set on the day.
The Vanderbilt men’s cross country team placed 12th and were paced by underclassmen, Aidan Livingston and Harrison Thomas who finished in 68th and 70th place, respectively. Livingston, who set a PR with a time of 25:40.6, set the tone for the Commodores for the morning. Thomas, who crossed the finish line just two seconds behind Livingston, finished with a time of 25:42.4 also set a new personal best.
“It was a very good representation by the men today,” said Keith. The top four were very close as a group and the team moved up at each 1000 mark. A real improvement in attitude and belief and with no seniors there’s a lot to build on for next year.”
Junior Jason Vincze, who has paced the Commodores all year, crossed with a time of 25:50.3, while Evan Suzman placed 81st with a time of 25:56.1. Andrew Irvine rounded out the Commodores contingent in the top 100 with a time of 26:27.9. Also competing for Vanderbilt were Caleb Casolaro (27:06.9), Waqqas Fazili (27:43.8).
The cross country teams will now prep for the 2017 NCAA South Regional on Nov 10. The race will be held in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The top two teams and top four individuals not on an advancing team will qualify for the NCAA Championships on Nov. 18 in Louisville, Ky.
For more information on the Vanderbilt cross country teams check them out on the website at www.vucommodores.com and on Twitter at @vandyxctrack.
Results – Women
Team – Top Five
1. Arkansas- 35 pts
2. Georgia- 88 pts
3. Ole Miss – 103 pts
4. Missouri-164 pts
5. Mississippi State-167
9. Vanderbilt -191
Vanderbilt Runners
27. Maddie Criscione- 21:15.6
33. Kendall Derry – 21:36.2
36. Megan Huebner – 21:38.9
46. Gillian Mortimer – 21:50.7
56. Devon Grisbaum – 22:06.6
70. Mailin Struck – 22:21.9
77. Anna Grace Morgan – 22:31.6
79. Ginger Hutton – 22:33.3
80. Reagan Bustamante – 22:34.2
93. Kacie Breeding – 22:52.5
Results – Men
Team – Top 5
1. Arkansas – 41 pts
2. Alabama- 81 pts
3. Ole Miss – 82 pts
4. Kentucky-110 pts
5. Tennessee- 125
12. Vanderbilt – 342 pts
Vanderbilt Runners
68. Aidan Livingston- 25:40.6
70. Harrison Thomas – 25:42.4
79. Jason Vincze – 25:50. 3
81. Evan Suzman – 25:56.1
93. Andrew Irvine – 26:27.9
105. Caleb Casolaro – 27:06.9
109. Waqqas Fazili – 27:43.8
DNF. Caleb Van Geffen
