THIS WEEK - SAMFORD CROSS COUNTRY OPENER (HOOVER, ALA.)
8/31/2015 12:00:00 AM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The University of Alabama men's and women's cross country teams travel to Hoover, Alabama, this Tuesday, Sept. 1, to compete in the Samford Cross Country Opener at Veterans Park. The men's 5-kilometer race is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. CT with the women's 3-kilometer race to follow.
WOMEN LOOKING TO BREAK THROUGH IN 2015
The Crimson Tide women finished last season in impressive fashion, taking third place at the SEC Championships followed by their second-consecutive third-place finish at the NCAA South Regional. While the squad just missed out qualifying for the NCAA Championships, every scorer from both of those meets is back this season. Alabama was led by senior Katelyn Greenleaf and junior Hannah Waggoner, who produced top-15 finishes at the SEC Championships and NCAA South Regional.
VETERAN GROUP LEADS MEN'S SQUAD
Junior Robbie-Farnham Rose, who finished inside the top 20 at the SEC Championships and NCAA South Regional, joins a quartet of seniors on this year's squad. Bringing back all but one key contributor from last season, the Tide figure to be an improved team once again this fall. South Plains College transfer Antibahs Kosgey, one of the top distance runners from the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) ranks, will look to make an immediate impact on the course. The men finished sixth at the SEC Championships before placed 15th at the NCAA South Regional in 2014.
TIDE WOMEN FEATURED IN FLOTRACK SAUCONY FLO50 XC COUNTDOWN
FloTrack kicked off its Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown, counting down the top 31 men's and 31 women's teams heading into the 2015 season, with the Alabama women coming in at No. 31. In addition to returning all scorers from last year's post-season meets, the Crimson Tide also welcome in University of Texas transfer Rachael Reddy. Reddy redshirted in her only season with the Longhorns, but did win the 5,000 meters at the USATF Junior Championships to qualify for the Junior Pan American Junior Championships, where she won gold.
FARNHAM-ROSE, GREENLEAF & WAGGONER EARN ALL-REGION HONORS
Alabama had three runners, two from the women's team and one from the men's team, named to the All-NCAA South Region Team last fall: Farnham-Rose, Greenleaf, and Waggoner. For Greenleaf, it was her third-straight season earning all-region honors, along with being named an all-SEC performer all three seasons as well. Farnham-Rose and Waggoner were named all-region for the first time in their careers. THE ROSTER Alabama features a strong core of veterans on its men's and women's rosters in head coach Dan Waters' fifth season at the Capstone. The season's men's roster is comprised of nine returners and three newcomers, while the women's roster includes a total of nine newcomers to go along with the 13 returners.
UP NEXT
The Crimson Tide heads to Memphis, Tenn. to take part in the Brooks Twilight Classic on Saturday, Sept. 5.
FOLLOWING THE TIDE
Get all the latest information on the team by following @AlabamaTrack on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. General athletic news can also be found at UA_Athletics on Twitter and Instagram and AlabamaAthletics on Facebook.
