Alabama
NCAA Pre-Nationals Invitational
Alabama Cross Country Set for Pre-Nationals Invitational in Tallahassee, Fla., Friday Morning
10/14/2021 5:19:00 PM | Track & Field, Cross Country
The Crimson Tide men are racing a full contingent on Friday, while the women have a trio toeing the line in Tallahassee
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The No. 22-ranked Alabama men's cross country team will compete in Friday's Pre-Nationals Invitational at the Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla., while the women's squad is sending a trio of individuals to compete in the open race.
The men's Garnet 8-kilometer race gets underway at 7 a.m. CT, while the Women's Open 6-kilometer contest starts at 8:45 a.m. CT. The meet is being held on the site of the 2021 NCAA Cross Country Championships, which will be held on Nov. 20.
Head Coach Dan Waters Said
"This is a great opportunity for our men to compete against a lot of the best teams in the nation on the same course that the national championships will be held on. For the women we have going on Friday, this is a chance for some valuable race experience against top-notch competition. We're looking forward to getting out there and taking another step toward our postseason goals."
The Crimson Tide Men
- The Alabama men's lineup includes Brady Barton, Carson Burian, Hillary Cheruiyot, Jack Hawes, Collin Jones, Victor Kiprop, Eliud Kipsang, Alex Mielke, Gavin Saacke, Rich Saenz, Paul Selden and Jacob Wiggers
- Kiprop has led the Tide during his rookie season, winning the North Alabama Showcase and taking seventh at the Joe Piane Invitational
- Kipsang and Cheruiyot both posted top-five finishes at the UNA Showcase and Kipsang was 14th at the Piane Invitational
- Saenz is the only member of the Tide's runners set to compete in all four of the Tide's regular-season meets this season
The Crimson Tide Women
- The UA women have sent three to Tallahassee – Keaton Morrison, Kerri Walsh and Sophie Spada
- Morrison and Walsh competed at both the North Alabama Showcase and the Memphis Twilight earlier this season while Spada opened her season at the UNA Showcase
The Men's Field
- The men's field includes 13 top-30 teams, including half the top-10
- In addition to No. 22 Alabama the Pre-National Invitational includes No. 1 Northern Arizona, No. 2 Notre Dame, No. 5 BYU, No. 7 Colorado, No. 8 Arkansas, No. 14 Iona, No. 17 Wake Forest, No. 20 Florida State, No. 24 Texas, No. 25 Weber State, No. 28 Ole Miss and No. 30 Charlotte
The Women's Field
- The women's field includes runners from a dozen ranked teams, including Alabama, Colorado and Utah from the top 10
- Ranked teams sending competitors to the Pre-Nationals Invitational include No. 4 Alabama, No. 5 Colorado, No. 10 Utah, No. 11 Arkansas, No. 12 North Carolina, No. 14 Ole Miss, No. 15 Florida State, No. 16 Northern Arizona, No. 23 Notre Dame, No. 24 Georgetown, No. 27 Kentucky and No. 28 Toledo
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Players Mentioned
