Cross-Country Takes on Elite Competition in Nashville

Saturday, September 15

Nashville, Tenn.

Samford University

Commodore Classic

Photo by: Chase Cochran

Cross-Country Takes on Elite Competition in Nashville

9.17.18 | Cross Country

Cross-Country Takes on Elite Competition in Nashville

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Samford men's and women's cross-country teams continued their 2018 season and went back to the trails this past weekend at the Commodore Classic hosted by Vanderbilt University.

The women's team placed thirteenth overall at the meet, beating in-conference opponents Chattanooga and Mercer. The women finished the meet with an average time of 19:11. Seven ran for the Bulldogs this weekend. Kathryn Foreman was the highest-finishing Bulldog, coming in 40^th. She finished with a time of 18:32.20. Junior Shian Mallory finished 65^th and came in with a 18:47.50 time. Allie Nelson placed 81^st and ran the five kilometer race in 19:10.80. Veronica Lyle and Mary Kellison Thorne finished outside the top 100 runners, placing 105^th and 117^th respectively. Lyle finished at 19:36.60, while Thorne finished at 19:47.90. Freshman Taryn Donahue ran her first race for the Bulldogs and finished just under the 20 minute mark with a time of 19:55.00 and came in 128^th. Mary Grace Strozier finished at 138^th with a time of 20:12.60.

The men's team placed seventh at the meet with an average time of 26:17, defeating Ohio State, host Vanderbilt, as well as Southern Conference opponent, Chattanooga. Junior Dillon Dean was once again the first Bulldog to cross the finish line, coming in eighth with a time of 25:13.90. Owen Bailey and Ben Bryant finished in the top 50 of male runners. Bailey finished 35^th with a time of 26:08.90, while Bryant finished 39^th and was clocked at 26:11.60. Ben Garner finished 51^st at 26:35.70 and Paul Richardson finished 82^nd at 27:14.60 to round out the five highest Bulldog finishers. Sam Katulich finished 105^th at 27:59.90 and Will Nichols finished 121^st at an even 29:00.00.

Both the men's and women's cross-country teams were picked to finish third in the Southern Conference preseason poll. The teams will compete again locally in Oxford, Alabama at the Jacksonville State University Foothills Invitational on September 29.