NASHVILLE – The Vanderbilt cross country teams will welcome a total of 21 teams, 18 in the men’s field and 21 in the women’s field, to Percy Warner Park for the 15th annual Commodore Classic on Saturday morning. The field features teams from the SEC, Big Ten and Conference USA along with several local teams.
Setting the Stage
Event: Commodore Classic
Date: Saturday, Sept. 15
Host: Vanderbilt
Site: Percy Warner Park
Start Times: Men’s 8K: 9 a.m. l Women’s 5K: 10 a.m.
Directions to the course: HERE
Results/Live Timing: HERE
Home Sweet, Commodore Classic
Saturday’s Commodore Classic will mark the 15th time Vanderbilt has hosted the home meet. The women’s team last won the meet in 2014 on the strength of alumnae Carmen Carlos’ third-place finish. In total, the women’s squad has won the team title nine times and has taken the individual title six times with Rita Jorgenson being the last individual to win in 2010. On the men’s side, the Commodores have placed in the top 10 eight times and posted back-to-back individual winners in 2006 and 2005.
From the Coach
Head Coach Steve Keith
On the Commodore Classic:
“It is a great meet, as usual, with 21 women’s teams and 18 men’s teams and 180-200 runners. It’s the first chance of the season to run the full squads together. We ran split squads the first two meets.”
“How close can we run as a group (runners 1-5 and 1-7) will determine our team success, especially in this large of a meet.”
“Workouts have gone well but it’s difficult to simulate the type of crowded race intensity they will face, so each meet early in the season is important for development.”
Scouting The Field
This weekend’s field is a strong one featuring teams from the SEC, Big Ten and Conference USA among others.
Men: Belmont, Charleston Southern, Chattanooga, Eastern Kentucky, Illinois, Lipscomb, Louisville, Mercer, Middle Tennessee, Murray State, Ohio State, Samford, Southern Illinois, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky
Women: Belmont, Charleston Southern, Chattanooga, Eastern Kentucky, Illinois, Lipscomb, Louisville, Mercer, Middle Tennessee, Murray State, Ohio State, Samford, Southern Illinois, Southern Miss, Tennessee State, Tennessee Tech, Vanderbilt, UAB, Western Kentucky
In The Rankings
The Commodore women were the No. 7 team in the South Region in the latest regional poll on Sept. 10. The Dores are up one spot in the regional rankings after entering the season as the eighth-best team in the South in the preseason poll.
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Additionally, several Commodores are coming in with marks at the top of the SEC. Alena Spaienza-Wright’s time of 18:22.80 at the Belmont Opener is the fifth fastest time in the SEC in a 5K and Grace Jensen’s 17:50.81is just behind Criscione, ranking as the sixth fastest 5K time in the SEC to date. On the men’s side, Nicholas Laning’s 15:32.82 in the 5,000 meter is 2nd among SEC foes at that distance. [SEC WEEKLY RELEASE]
On Your Marks, Get Set, GO:
A total of 25 Vanderbilt runners will compete this weekend. A list of all runners competing is listed below:
Women
Kacie Breeding, Reagan Bustamant, Emily Cohen, Kendall Derry, Devon Grisbaum, Ginger Hutton, Grace Jensen, Anna Grace Morgan, Gillian Mortimer, Caroline Pietrzyk, Alena Sapienza-Wright, Maili Struck, Sara Tsai, Haley Walker
Men
Caleb Casolaro, Matthew Estopina, Edward Harpstea, Nick Laning, Aidan Livingston, Lucas Mowery, Patrick Perrier, Evan Suzman, Harrison Thomas, Caleb Van Geffen, Jason Vincze
Early-season results
The Commodore women finished runner-up at the Belmont Opener on August 31, and third at the SEC Preview at Auburn. One of the biggest highlights of the SEC Preview was the return of All-SEC performers Sara Tsai and Caroline Pietrzyk, who both sat out the entire 2017 slate. In her return, Tsai didn’t miss a beat, finishing second among the field of 46 runners with a time of 13:25.88 while Pietrzyk crossed the finish line with a time of 13:49.82 good for eighth place.
The men finished fourth at the SEC Preview with Aidan Livingston leading the way with a 14th-place finish with a time of 18:36.24, just ahead of teammate Jason Vinczewho was 15th with a time of 18:37.92. In their season-opening competition at the Belmont Open, the Commodore men finished runner-up, with Nicholas Laning leading the way with a 15:32.82 time.
Rewind to 2017 Commodore Classic
The Vanderbilt women’s cross country team ran a complete race in the 14th annual Commodore Classic and were rewarded with a runner-up finish in the 17 team women’s field at Percy Warner Park.
The women finished behind Ohio State out the Big Ten and just head of SEC rival, Missouri — two teams that advanced to the 2016 NCAA Championships. The men’s team placed 11th and were paced by Jason Vincze’s top-50 finish. [RECAP]
Up Next
The Commodore men will take part in the Louisville Classic on Saturday, September 29, while the women will compete in the Adidas Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invitational in Madison, Wis.
A Look at the 2018 Schedule
The Commodore women will compete in two other regular season meets after the Commodore Classic – the Adidas Wisconsin Nuttycombe Invitational on September 28 and the Texas A&M Arturo Invitational on October 13 – before running in the SEC Championships October 26 in Auburn, Ala, and then regionals in Tallahassee, Fla., on November 9.
The men will run at the Louisville Classic following the Commodore Classic on September 29 and will compete at the Texas A&M Arturo Invitational on October 13 in College Station, Texas. Like the women, their SEC Championship meet will take place at Auburn and NCAA regionals in Tallahassee, Fla. [ SCHEDULES: MEN | WOMEN ]
Follow The Commodores on Social Media
For all the latest information on the Vanderbilt cross country teams give them a follow on Twitter at @vandyxctrack.
