COLUMBIA, Mo. – The ninth-ranked Lady Vols and Vols cross country teams showed out in the Show Me State Friday morning as both squads placed second overall at the 2024 Gans Creek Classic.
The men and women were the highest finishing teams from the SEC with the men scoring 163 points and placing ahead of Auburn (167), Missouri (180), Kentucky (185), Ole Miss (238) and Florida (291). The Lady Vols scored 91 points to finish in front of No. 26 Ole Miss (120), No. 6 Florida (131), Auburn (182), Kentucky (243) and Missouri (336).
In the men’s 8k, newcomer Christopher Middleton-Pearson led the Vols with a 16th-place finish at 23:33.8. The placement is his second top-three finish this season. Middleton-Pearson’s time is also a personal best over an 8k course.
Hudson Betts was the second Vol over the finish line, placing 22nd in 23:39.9. Another Tennessee newcomer, Zach Jaeger, crossed in a time of 23:56.4 to finish 33rd overall, while Aaron Jones (23:59.3) and Yonas Haile (24:09.9) rounded out UT’s top five as they crossed in 42nd and 54th place, respectively.
Ashley Jones made a strong season debut in the women’s 6k, finishing fifth overall in a time of 20:00.6. The time is her second-fastest over a 6k course. Rachel Sutliff joined Jones in the top 10 as she crossed the finish line ninth at 20:14.9
Jillian Candelino was the third finisher for the Lady Vols, crossing 15th overall in 20:24.9. Jaci Sievers set a personal best in the 6k, placing 27th and running a time of 20:36.2. Msgana Araya closed out Tennessee’s top five, finishing 35th at 20:49.6.
Four Lady Vols also competed in the 6k open race on Friday. Jaylee Wingate was the top finisher for the women’s squad, placing fifth at 21:28.0. Ella Johnson placed 14th in a time of 21:44.7, while Savannah Rivera was 20th at 22:06.9. Emma Kate Hamby ran a time of 22:17.6 to cross the finish line in 30th.
UP NEXT
The Vols and Lady Vols close out the regular season on Oct. 18 and 19. The men’s team will race in the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, while the women run the following day in Madison, Wisconsin, at Pre-Nationals.
RESULTS
Men’s 8K – 2nd of 36 – 163 points
16. Christopher Middleton-Pearson – 23:33.8
22. Hudson Betts – 23:39.9
33. Zach Jaeger – 23:56.4
42. Aaron Jones – 23:59.3
54. Yonas Haile – 24:09.9
—
Thomas Rice – 24:19.3
Canaan Anderson – 24:23.9
Brody Chapman – 24:39.1
Aidan Ryan – 24:49.4
Gabriel Sanchez –…
The men and women were the highest finishing teams from the SEC with the men scoring 163 points and placing ahead of Auburn (167), Missouri (180), Kentucky (185), Ole Miss (238) and Florida (291). The Lady Vols scored 91 points to finish in front of No. 26 Ole Miss (120), No. 6 Florida (131), Auburn (182), Kentucky (243) and Missouri (336).
In the men’s 8k, newcomer Christopher Middleton-Pearson led the Vols with a 16th-place finish at 23:33.8. The placement is his second top-three finish this season. Middleton-Pearson’s time is also a personal best over an 8k course.
Hudson Betts was the second Vol over the finish line, placing 22nd in 23:39.9. Another Tennessee newcomer, Zach Jaeger, crossed in a time of 23:56.4 to finish 33rd overall, while Aaron Jones (23:59.3) and Yonas Haile (24:09.9) rounded out UT’s top five as they crossed in 42nd and 54th place, respectively.
Ashley Jones made a strong season debut in the women’s 6k, finishing fifth overall in a time of 20:00.6. The time is her second-fastest over a 6k course. Rachel Sutliff joined Jones in the top 10 as she crossed the finish line ninth at 20:14.9
Jillian Candelino was the third finisher for the Lady Vols, crossing 15th overall in 20:24.9. Jaci Sievers set a personal best in the 6k, placing 27th and running a time of 20:36.2. Msgana Araya closed out Tennessee’s top five, finishing 35th at 20:49.6.
Four Lady Vols also competed in the 6k open race on Friday. Jaylee Wingate was the top finisher for the women’s squad, placing fifth at 21:28.0. Ella Johnson placed 14th in a time of 21:44.7, while Savannah Rivera was 20th at 22:06.9. Emma Kate Hamby ran a time of 22:17.6 to cross the finish line in 30th.
UP NEXT
The Vols and Lady Vols close out the regular season on Oct. 18 and 19. The men’s team will race in the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, while the women run the following day in Madison, Wisconsin, at Pre-Nationals.
RESULTS
Men’s 8K – 2nd of 36 – 163 points
16. Christopher Middleton-Pearson – 23:33.8
22. Hudson Betts – 23:39.9
33. Zach Jaeger – 23:56.4
42. Aaron Jones – 23:59.3
54. Yonas Haile – 24:09.9
—
Thomas Rice – 24:19.3
Canaan Anderson – 24:23.9
Brody Chapman – 24:39.1
Aidan Ryan – 24:49.4
Gabriel Sanchez –…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at University of Tennessee Athletics…