The Kentucky men’s and women’s cross country teams will begin the 2020 campaign Saturday at the Commodore Classic in Nashville, Tennessee.
Held at Percy Warner Park, the men’s team will run an 8,000-meter race beginning at 9:30 a.m. EDT (8:30 Central time in Nashville), while the women will toe the line for a 6K race that begins at 10:15 a.m. EDT (9:15 in Nashville). In addition to Kentucky and host Vanderbilt, the five-team field also features Alabama, Auburn and Missouri.
UK assistant coach Hakon DeVries will handle training and strategy for another season with the cross country and distance runners. DeVries sees his team as particularly eager, as the Wildcats – like all teams – missed the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships and the entire outdoor track season because of COVID-19 concerns.
“Our athletes are excited to put that Kentucky jersey on and represent their school, even more so this season with all that has gone on,” DeVries said. “They have been training really well the last month and I’m looking forward to seeing the growth we’ve had over the last year to show the hard work they’ve put in.”
Race results will be posted at http://www.cfpitiming.com/2020_Cross_Country_Season/Vandy_xc_2020/Vanderbilt_xc_invite_2020.html
Following this weekend’s opener, the next meet for UK will come Oct. 3 at the Greater Louisville Classic. The schedule continues Oct. 16 at the UAB Classic before concluding with the Southeastern Conference championships Oct. 30 at LSU.
Men’s Team Outlook
The UK men, who finished fourth at the 2019 SEC Championships held in Lexington, return four of the five runners who scored that day – Trevor Warren, Dylan Allen, Aaron Withrow and Patrick Schaefer. Also running in Saturday’s event will be Jake Allen, Matt Duvall, Ethan Kern, Ryan Maynard and Jonah Mitchell.
The Wildcats are projected to finish sixth in the league in the SEC 2020 coaches’ preseason poll.
Women’s Team Outlook
Similar to the men’s team, the Wildcat women return plenty of experience this season. UK placed seventh at last year’s SEC meet, and all five of the runners who were in the scoring places that day are back for this season.
The lineup for Saturday features Rachel Boice, Sophie Carrier, Jenna Gearing, Anna Guerra, Tori Herman, Kaylie Kenne, Kaitlyn Lacy, Natalie Molotky, Madisyn Peeples, Jenna Schwinghamer, Kelli Walsh and Athena Young.
In the SEC’s 2020 preseason poll, Kentucky is projected to finish seventh in the league.
Follow along with the Cats on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and on the web at UKathletics.com.
‑ GO CATS –
For more information contact:
Tony Neely