University of Tennessee Athletics
Big Orange Heads To Crimson Classic
October 12, 2012 | Track & Field
Oct. 12, 2012
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - The Tennessee men and women's cross country squads will make their annual trip to Tuscaloosa, Ala., to compete in the Crimson Classic at the University of Alabama this weekend. The meet will be the Big Orange's final competition leading up to the 2012 Southeastern Conference Championships on October 26. Action at the Harry Pritchett Running Park will begin at 9:30 a.m. ET with the men's 8,000-meter and the women's 6K race will start at 10:10 a.m. ET.
The men's field consists of 14 teams, while the women's lineup includes 15 schools. In addition to the Tennessee squads, Alabama, Ole Miss and Mississippi State will run. The Vols will be making their 15th visit to Tuscaloosa, while the Lady Vols will be making their ninth trip to the UA-hosted event.
The Big Orange has been led by sophomore transfer Peter Okwera, who most recently finished 24th in a field of 332 runners at the prestigious Paul Short Run on Sept. 28. Okwera, who has led the Vols in every race this season, guided UT to a program-best 11th place team finish at the event. Freshman Kyle Walter, who garnered SEC Freshman of the Week honors earlier in the season, shattered his personal record with by navigating the 8K course in 24:56 to finish in 48th place.
In addition to Okwera and Walter, junior Stephen Derlath and sophomore Austin Whitelaw have scored at all three meets for the Vols.
Freshman Alexis Panisse has paced the Lady Vols in all three races this season and came in with a person-best time of 21:36 in the 6K at the Paul Short Run. The Bellerose, N.Y., native finished 58th in a field of 360 runners. UT placed 20th out of 40 teams, improving 12 slots from last year's finish at the event. Senior Kelsey Kane has scored in all three meets this season. She posted a personal record with a time of 22:20 at the Paul Short Run.
Last year at the Crimson Classic, the Vols were led by then-senior Chris Bodary - who finished second individually - and led UT to an eighth place overall finish. The Lady Vols wound up third, with then-senior Brittany Sheffey winning the event. Returning scorers include Kane, Amirah Johnson and Amber Zimmerman on the women's side and Whitelaw and sophomore Jeremy Dickie for the men.
After taking a week off to train, the UT harriers will compete in the annual SEC Championships in Nashville, Tenn., on Oct. 26. The Vols took fifth at the championship meet last season, with the women notching a ninth place finish.
For more information about the Tennessee harriers, visit UTSports.com and follow @Vol_Track on Twitter.
