XC Central: Pre-National Invitational

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Tennessee cross country wraps up the 2025 regular season on Friday in Columbia, Missouri, competing in a field of more than 40 Division I programs at the Pre-National Invitational. The Lady Vols will race in the women's invitational 6K at 11 a.m. ET, followed by the Vols in the men's invitational 8K at 11:45 a.m.

The Pre-National Invitational offers teams an opportunity to preview the course for the 2025 NCAA Championships, as Columbia will serve as host site for this year's national meet—set for Saturday, Nov. 22.

Twelve teams in this week's field are ranked in the top 30 of the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) national coaches poll, including the No. 30 Tennessee women's squad. The Lady Vols will face No. 1 BYU, No. 3 Florida, No. 8 Oklahoma State, No. 19 Villanova, No. 21 Missouri, No. 23 Boston College and three other squads receiving votes. On the men's side, an unranked Vols crew will go up against No. 2 Oklahoma State, No. 19 Missouri, No. 22 Arkansas, No. 24 Ole Miss, No. 30 Loyola (Ill.) and two teams receiving votes.

The 2025 Pre-National Invitational will stream live on SEC Network+, available at espn.com/watch and on the ESPN app. Live results will be provided by PrimeTime Timing.

LAST TIME OUT: Tennessee turned in a strong showing at the Gans Creek Classic in Columbia, highlighted by freshman Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka's remarkable runner-up finish in the women's 6K. Ogwoka clocked 19:07.7—the second-fastest 6K time in the nation this season—while shattering the previous course record by more than 40 seconds. Her performance helped guide the Lady Vols to a 12th-place team finish among 30 squads, placing ahead of three nationally ranked programs. On the men's side, redshirt sophomore Hudson Betts led a short-handed Tennessee lineup with a 96th-place finish in 23:48.3.

FRESHMAN PHENOM: Lady Vol freshman Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka continued her stellar debut season by earning SEC Runner of the Week honors for the second time this fall following her showing at the Gans Creek Classic. Competing against a field of 237 runners and 10 nationally ranked teams, Ogwoka's performance further cemented her status as one of the SEC's top newcomers.

Her recognition marked Tennessee's third weekly league honor of the season under second-year head coach Justin Duncan.

UP NEXT: Tennessee opens the postseason in two weeks on Rocky Top, as Knoxville plays host to the 2025 SEC Cross Country Championships. The conference meet is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 31, beginning at 10 a.m. ET from the Cherokee Farms Cross Country Course.

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Players Mentioned

Hudson Betts

Mary Nyaboke Ogwoka

University of Tennessee Athletics