University of Tennessee Athletics
University of Tennessee
Belmont Opener
Vol Harriers Take 1st At Belmont Opener
August 31, 2012 | Track & Field
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The University of Tennessee men's cross country team took first place and the women's squad earned a fourth-place finish at the Belmont Opener on Friday evening, as the Big Orange harriers opened the 2012 campaign in Nashville, Tenn.
Led by newcomer Peter Okwera and sophomore Austin Whitelaw, the Vols' top five posted a great spread, all finished in the top 17 and averaged a time of 15 minutes, 46.62 seconds on the 5000-meter Percy Warner Park course. Okwera finished third overall with a time of 15 minutes, 20.10 seconds and Whitelaw finished eighth overall in a time of 15 minutes, 42.80 seconds in a field of 84 runners.
"Our men had a great spread of only 45 seconds. It was a nice pack and it allowed us to score well," said UT Director of Track & Field and Cross Country J.J. Clark. "We ran really well together and got off on the right foot this season. We put together a much better run here than last year."
Junior Stephen Derlath, redshirt freshman Kyle Walter and sophomore J.R. Creekmore finished 10th, 13th and 17th, respectively.
Kentucky took second on the men's side and meet host Belmont rounded out the top three.
In the women's 4000-meter, the Lady Vols finished with 93 points and averaged 15 minutes, 27.20 seconds. Newcomer Alexis Panisse paced UT with a seventh-place finish as she navigated the 4K-course in 14 minutes, 49 seconds. Senior Kelsey Kane followed Panisse in 12th place individually with a personal-best time of 15 minutes, 10.10 seconds in a field of 76 runners.
"It was a great run for Alexis and Kelsey," said Clark. "As a group, we have all the pieces of the puzzle, now they just need to be put together. We have time to make sure everything is in order by the championship portion of our season."
Juniors Amber Zimmerman and Patavia Lowery and freshman Caroline Duer all ran within 6.1 seconds of each other as they came in at 23rd, 24th and 27th, respectively.
With all five of its runners in the top 13, Vanderbilt took the women's title with Kentucky and Belmont following in second and third, respectively.
After a week of training, the squads are back in action in the state capital on Saturday, Sept. 15, for Vanderbilt's Commodore Classic.
MEN'S TEAM RESULTS: 1. Tennessee, 50; 2. Kentucky, 74; 3. Belmont, 86; 4. Kennesaw State, 113; 5. Western Kentucky, 124; 6. Middle Tennessee State, 144; 7. Nashville Harriers, 169; 8. Vanderbilt, 171; 9. Lipscomb, 214
WOMEN'S TEAM RESULTS: 1. Vanderbilt, 33; 2. Kentucky, 34; 3. Belmont, 82; 4. Tennessee, 93; 5. Western Kentucky, 139; 6. Kennesaw State, 176; 7. Lipscomb, 213; 8. Middle Tennessee State, 222.
