Alabama
Crimson Classic
Alabama Men Second, Women Fifth at 2017 Crimson Classic
10/13/2017 12:50:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
Tide men tie with Middle Tennessee for top team spot but Blue Raiders take tiebreaker
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Alabama and Middle Tennessee men's cross country teams lived up to their South Region rankings, as the two teams tied for first at the 2017 Crimson Classic at the Harry Pritchett Running Park on Friday. The top-ranked Blue Raiders took home team honors based on the meet tie-breaker over the third-ranked Crimson Tide.
Middle Tennessee and Alabama each scored 110 points to take the top spots in the team competition. Georgia Tech finished third with 124 points, followed by Auburn (134) and Belmont (138).
Alabama junior Vincent Kiprop finished second on Friday, completing the 8,000-meter course in 23:26.4. Junior Gilbert Kigen was third in 23:34.7, while fellow junior Alfred Chelanga was fourth in 23:42.0. Middle Tennessee's Jacob Choge took individual honors in 23:22.3. The times by Choge, Kiprop and Kigen are the three fastest ever run on the 8,000-meter course at UA's Harry Pritchett Running Park. Chelanga's time ranks No. 5 in course history.
Also scoring for the Tide were sophomore J.P. Brinyark, who finished 52nd in 25:37.1 and senior Andrew Bull, who placed 53rd in 25:38.1.
"Finishing in a tie with the No. 1 team in the region then losing 3-2 on the tiebreaker was tough," Alabama head coach Dan Waters said following the race. "But we know we're going to have another opportunity to race them on this course at the South Regional. Our guys learned a few things about them today so hopefully that will benefit us next time out.
"I think the top three guys we trying to press the pace around the 17 minute mark to put a little pressure on Choge from Middle Tennessee," Waters added. "But he's got some great footspeed, stayed in the race and out-sprinted our guys. Hats off to him. He had a great run. That's a great time on this course."
The Crimson Tide women were led by senior Nicole Gardner, who finished 18th in 21:13.8. Sophomores Rebecca Buteau (21:15.3) and McKenzie Yanek (21:20.5) finished 20th and 24th, respectively. Freshman Maddie Dearborn finished 30th in 21:39.9 and senior Jessica Gray finished 45th in 21:46.8 to round out the scoring for Alabama.
"Nicole had a fantastic race for the women and Rebecca really did a good job as well," Waters said. "The whole team showed a lot of toughness and I was happy to see how they recovered in the middle of the race, regrouped and finished hard. We had several good performances by the women's team today. I was really pleased to see that."
Georgia Tech (74 points) took home top team honors, followed by Auburn (124), Mississippi State (126), Samford (133) and the Tide (147).
The Alabama men's and women's teams will return to action on Oct. 27 at the Southeastern Conference Championships at the University of Georgia.
Crimson Classic
Friday, Oct. 13, 2017
Harry Pritchett Running Park
Tuscaloosa, Ala.
Host: University of Alabama
Men's 8,000-Meter Team Results (Top 5)
1. Middle Tennessee (110)
2. ALABAMA (110)
3. Georgia Tech (124)
4. Auburn (134)
5. Belmont (138)
Alabama Individual Men's Results
Scoring Runners
2. Vincent Kiprop, Jr., 23:26.4
3. Gilbert Kigen, Jr., 23:34.7
4. Alfred Chelanga, Jr., 23:42.0
52. J.P. Brinyark, So., 25:37.1
53. Andrew Bull, Sr., 25:38.1
Other Finishers
74. Chase Buckelew, Fr., 26:00.8
95. Hayden Blalock, Fr., 26:18.8
107. Clay Austell, So., 26:29.3
131. Nathan Gamble, Fr., 26:53.6
150. Oliver Rigg, So., 27:11.0
156. Paul Selden, Fr., 27:15.2
162. Jackson Reed, Fr., 27:29.1
164. Colton Smith, Fr., 27:33.4
Women's 6,000 Meters Team Results (Top 5)
1. Georgia Tech (74)
2. Auburn (124)
3. Mississippi State (126)
4. Samford (133)
5. ALABAMA (147)
Alabama Individual Women's Results
Scoring Runners
18. Nicole Gardner, Jr., 21:13.8
20. Rebecca Buteau, So., 21:15.3
24. McKenzie Yanek, So., 21:20.5
40. Maddie Dearborn, Fr., 21:39.9
45. Jessica Gray, Jr., 21:46.8
Other Finishers
48. Elisabeth Danis, So., 21:50.2
54. Shannon Marsh, R-Fr., 21:55.6
57. Caroline Barlow, Sr., 21:57.6
79. Sarah Mohan, Jr., 22:16.3
86. Alison Ringle, Sr., 22:21.8
94. Brianna Koshy, Jr., 22:28.5
106. Caroline Brooks, So., 22:41.6
108. Haley Wright, So., 22:44.0
116. Brittany Tolson, So., 22:46.8
121. Kaitlin York, Jr., 22:49.8
144. Alexa Cruz, So., 23:12.2
179. Eliza Witherspoon, Fr., 23:34.6
182. Margot Dooley, Fr., 23:37.6
192. Gabby Prizio, R-Fr., 23:53.4
199. Ashley Eavenson, Fr., 23:58.2
207. Emma Sidman, Fr., 24:09.3
216. Savannah Fraleigh, R.- Fr., 24:34.5
222. Isabel Caddo, Fr., 24:42.0
223. Daley Cline, So., 24:43.7
237. Caroline Cumbest, R-Fr., 25:08.4
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Players Mentioned
