NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt cross country is back in action Friday at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, Missouri.
The last time out
The Vanderbilt women won the Belmont Opener for the second year in a row. Hannah Huyler led the way for Vandy, earning a runner-up finish with a time of 18:13.98. Tyla Lumley (18:14.11) and Myrto Valacha (18:14.38) followed in third and fourth place respectively.
The Commodore men earned a fourth-place finish, with Dylan Ballard (16:07.77), Jackson Scruggs (16:07.87), Sam Darmanie (16:07.94), Tommy O’Brien (16:08.05) and Finn Richards (16:08.13) finishing 23rd through 27th, respectively.
Season opener for some
Several of Vanderbilt’s veteran runners did not compete at the Belmont Opener and will race for the first time this season in Columbia.
On the men’s side, Michael Skora, who was the top Commodore finisher at every meet in 2024, and Luke Churchwell and Brody Chapman, who bring SEC experience as transfers from Georgia and Tennessee, respectively, will kick off their cross country seasons at the Grans Creek Classic.
USATF U20 5,000 meter national champion Lily Kriegel, Claire Petersen, who scored for the Dores at SECs and regionals in 2024, and Bria Bennis, ranked top 10 in school history in three track field events, will make their season debuts Friday.
Keeping up with the Commodores
The men’s 8-kilometer black invitational race begins at 8:15 a.m. The women’s 6-kilometer gold invitational race will be at 9 a.m. The event will be streamed on SEC Network+, and live results are available at pttiming.com.
