Nov. 12, 2015
Event: NCAA South Regional
Day, Date: Friday, Nov. 13
Site: Harry Pritchett Running Park (Tuscaloosa, Ala.)
Host: University of Alabama
Start Times: 9 a.m. Women’s 6k Championship l 10 a.m. Men’s 8k Championship
Live Results: HERE
Championship Central: HERE
Host Championship Central: HERE
For the past few seasons, the Vanderbilt women’s cross country team has been tagged as “a team to watch” at the NCAA South Region Championship. This year, when the Commodores arrive in Tuscaloosa, Ala., they’ll have a different label: Defending Champions. By delivering an impressive display of pack running, the VU squad captured the region championship last November for the first time in program history and advanced to the NCAA Championships for the fourth straight year. The Commodores — ranked No. 27 in the nation and No. 2 in the Region — will be looking to extend that streak Friday, when they’ll square off against a highly-competitive field at 9 a.m. at Harry Pritchett Running Park. The Vanderbilt men will also be in action Friday, competing in the men’s 8k Championship at 10 a.m. Here’s a closer look at the meet:
l The skinny on the Commodores. Led by SEC Female Freshman of the Year Caroline Pietrzyk, the Vanderbilt women will be looking to secure their fifth straight berth in the NCAA Championships on Friday in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The Commodores — who had never qualified for the national meet prior to their current four-year run — are the South Region’s defending champion and are looking to punctuate another successful season with a strong postseason push. Pietrzyk has been Vanderbilt’s top finisher in all five of the Commodores’ meets this season. In her most recent race, she posted a time of 19:54.1 and took third place overall at the SEC Championships two weeks ago in College Station, Texas.
l What’s at stake. The top two teams in each of Friday’s races will automatically qualify for the NCAA Championships. The other teams will be hoping for at-large bids from the NCAA Division I Cross Country Subcommittee. Also, a total of 38 individuals not on an advancing team will move on to the national meet for each gender, with 36 of those automatically qualifying by being one of the top four finishers in the region not on an advancing team, while two others will be at-large selections.
l Looking at the field. A total of 27 men’s and 36 women’s teams are slated to compete in this year’s meet. Women’s Teams: Alabama, Alabama State, Auburn, Austin Peay, Belmont, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Florida, Florida A&M, Florida Atlantic, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Georgia Tech, Jacksonville, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Memphis, Mercer, Miami, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, North Florida, Samford, South Alabama, South Florida, Southern Mississippi, Tennessee, Tennessee Tech, Tennessee-Martin, UAB, UCF and Vanderbilt. Men’s Teams: Alabama, Alabama State, Auburn, Austin Peay, Belmont, Chattanooga, East Tennessee State, Florida, Florida Gulf Coast, Florida State, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Kennesaw State, Lipscomb, Memphis, Mercer, Miami, Middle Tennessee, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, North Florida, Samford, South Alabama, South Florida, Tennessee, Tennessee Tech and Vanderbilt.
l Scheduled to run for the Vanderbilt women. Reagan Anderson, Sara Barron, Carmen Carlos, Maddie Criscione, Caroline Pietrzyk, Sara Tsai, Vanessa Valentine and Lily Williams.
l Scheduled to run for the Vanderbilt men. Caleb Casolaro, Waqqas Fazili, Nick French, Nikos Gkotsis, Sam Reilly, Evan Suzman, Jake Van Geffen, Jason Vincze
l Course Information. For a look at the course map, click HERE.
l Looking back to last year. Placing three runners among the top-10 and five among the top-15, the No. 16-ranked Vanderbilt women won the NCAA South Region championship in Tallahassee, Fla. The Commodores finished with 53 points to nip defending champ Florida State by one point. It was Vanderbilt’s first region championship in the program’s history, and assured the Commodores of their fourth straight trip to the NCAA Championships. Senior Claire Benjamin was Vanderbilt’s top finisher, taking sixth place with a personal-best time of 19:53.50. Vanderbilt’s Sara Barron (19:59.40) and Carmen Carlos (19:59.60) took ninth and 10th place, respectively, followed by Katherine Delaney (13th, 20:05.50) and Amira Joseph (14th, 20:15.10). The Commodores’ top five had an impressive spread of just 22 seconds. VANDERBILT MEN: John Ewing took 46th place with a time of 31:39.50 as the Vanderbilt men’s cross country team earned a 19th-place finish at Friday’s NCAA South Region Championship. Nick French was Vanderbilt’s next runner, finishing 94th at 32:29.70. Also representing Vanderbilt were: Sam Reilly (115th at 32:59.70), Jake Van Geffen (131st at 33:49.20), Andrew Bachman(139th at 34:12.80), Matthew Cleveland (144th at 34:31.20) and Andrew Fix (156th at 35:19.10)..
