Alabama Cross Country Teams Open 2016 Season on Saturday
8/31/2016 3:02:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama men's and women's cross country teams travel to Memphis, Tenn. to open the 2016 cross country season at the Brooks Memphis Twilight Classic on Saturday, Sept. 3. Christian Brothers University will serve as host for the meet, which features both collegiate and high school races. The women will run a 5-kilometer race beginning at 9:20 p.m. (CT) with the men's 4-mile race set for a 10 p.m. (CT) start. A total of 24 men's teams and 27 women's teams are set to compete in the event.
In the Rankings
The Crimson Tide women's team is No. 5 and the men's squad is No. 7 in the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) preseason South Region rankings released Tuesday, August 30. Both teams were voted seventh in their respective SEC Cross Country Coaches preseason polls.
21 Runners Set to Compete in Memphis
The Crimson Tide will travel 21 athletes - 12 women and nine men - to Memphis this weekend. Competing for the women's squad will be senior Hannah Waggoner; junior Caroline Barlow; sophomores Calli Coggins, Nicole Gardner, Sarah Mohan, Rachael Reddy and Kaitlin York; freshmen Rebecca Buteau, Alexa Cruz, Elisabeth Danis, Haley Wright and McKenzie Yanek. The Alabama men will run seniors Antibahs Kosgei, Evan Prizy and Conner Thompson; juniors Andrew Bull, Garrett Bull and Josh Short; sophomore Clay Austell and freshmen James Brinyark and Elliott Miller.
Youth Movement
Seven Tide runners will make their collegiate debut in Memphis on Saturday - Rebecca Buteau, Alexa Cruz, Elisabeth Danis, Haley Wright and McKenzie Yanek on the women's side and James Brinyark and Elliott Miller for the men. In all, Alabama will roster 18 freshmen - 6 men and 12 women - in 2016.
Kosgei Earns Runner of the Year Honors
Senior Antibahs Kosgei returns to the men's cross country team in 2016 after a stellar debut performance last season. The Eldoret, Kenya, native won the individual crowns at both the Southeastern Conference Championships and the NCAA South Regional in 2015 to earn runner of the year honors for both the conference and the region.
Head Coach Dan Waters' Outlook
"This weekend will be a good opportunity for several of our freshmen to get a taste of college competition for the first time and learn what it takes to rebound quickly as we will also be running next weekend as well. It's also an opportunity to get our veteran group on the course for the first time this season. I know everyone is looking forward to running in Memphis and kicking off the season. We've had a good summer and it's time to see what we have."
Up Next
The Tide has a quick turnaround after this weekend's meet, traveling to Chattanooga, Tenn., for the Powerade Invitational on Friday, Sept. 9. The Tide men will run a five kilometer race while women will run a two mile race.
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.Â
Players Mentioned
