BRYAN-COLLEGE STATION, Texas – The Lady Vols performed spectacularly on Friday at the 2024 SEC Cross Country Championships at Watts Cross Country Course, finishing second overall with 103 points. On the men’s side, the Vols placed sixth at 169 points.
The women’s finish is their best at the conference meet since placing second in 2009.
“I am excited,” head coach Justin Duncan said. “The women showed up when it counted. SECs is an exciting time. As the slogan says, ‘It Just Means More,’ so we went into the race this weekend really focused and dialed in. The passion is high. We talked about winning the battles all around us during the race and they showed up and executed.”
Four Lady Vols earned All-SEC honors with Ashley Jones claiming first-team accolades with a sixth-place finish. Jillian Candelino, Rachel Sutliff and Caroline Lyerly all garnered third-team recognition as they placed 18th, 20th and 21st, respectively.
Friday’s performance marks consecutive seasons that the quartet has earned All-SEC recognition.
Jones finished the 6k course in 19:14.4, with Candelino coming home in 19:48.3. Sutliff and Lyerly finished back-to-back in 19:52.2 and 19:54.3. Andie-Marie Jones rounded out Tennessee’s top five as she placed 38th at 20:08.0.
Hudson Betts was the top finisher for the men, placing 23rd in 23:19.0. Christopher Middleton-Pearson chased Betts across the line as he finished 25th at 23:20.2.
Pavel Vinduska was the third Vol home, placing 39th with a time of 23:40.5. Aaron Jones (23:42.3) and Gabriel Sanchez (23:43.1) closed out the top five for the men as they finished 44th and 46th, respectively.
UP NEXT
Tennessee will prepare for the NCAA South Regional Championships which will be run on Friday, Nov. 8 in Tallahassee, Florida.
RESULTS
Women’s 6K – 2nd of 16 – 103 points
6. Ashley Jones – 19:14.4
18. Jillian Candelino – 19:48.3
20. Rachel Sutliff – 19:52.2
21. Caroline Lyerly – 19:54.3
38. Andie-Marie Jones – 20:08.0
—
Summer Schuster – 20:16.6
Rebecca O’Keefe – 20:18.7
Jaci Sievers – 20:22.7
Msgana Araya – 20:32.3
Callie Tucker – 20:40.5
Men’s 8K – 6th of 14 – 169 points
23. Hudson Betts – 23:19.0
25. Christopher Middleton-Pearson – 23:20.2
39. Pavel Vinduska – 23:40.5
44. Aaron Jones – 23:42.3
46. Gabriel Sanchez – 23:43.1
—
Yonas Haile – 23:46.1
Zach Jaeger – 24:10.1
Brody Chapman – 24:14.5
Thomas Rice – 24:25.7
Canaan Anderson – 25:04.9
…
The women’s finish is their best at the conference meet since placing second in 2009.
“I am excited,” head coach Justin Duncan said. “The women showed up when it counted. SECs is an exciting time. As the slogan says, ‘It Just Means More,’ so we went into the race this weekend really focused and dialed in. The passion is high. We talked about winning the battles all around us during the race and they showed up and executed.”
Four Lady Vols earned All-SEC honors with Ashley Jones claiming first-team accolades with a sixth-place finish. Jillian Candelino, Rachel Sutliff and Caroline Lyerly all garnered third-team recognition as they placed 18th, 20th and 21st, respectively.
Friday’s performance marks consecutive seasons that the quartet has earned All-SEC recognition.
Jones finished the 6k course in 19:14.4, with Candelino coming home in 19:48.3. Sutliff and Lyerly finished back-to-back in 19:52.2 and 19:54.3. Andie-Marie Jones rounded out Tennessee’s top five as she placed 38th at 20:08.0.
Hudson Betts was the top finisher for the men, placing 23rd in 23:19.0. Christopher Middleton-Pearson chased Betts across the line as he finished 25th at 23:20.2.
Pavel Vinduska was the third Vol home, placing 39th with a time of 23:40.5. Aaron Jones (23:42.3) and Gabriel Sanchez (23:43.1) closed out the top five for the men as they finished 44th and 46th, respectively.
UP NEXT
Tennessee will prepare for the NCAA South Regional Championships which will be run on Friday, Nov. 8 in Tallahassee, Florida.
RESULTS
Women’s 6K – 2nd of 16 – 103 points
6. Ashley Jones – 19:14.4
18. Jillian Candelino – 19:48.3
20. Rachel Sutliff – 19:52.2
21. Caroline Lyerly – 19:54.3
38. Andie-Marie Jones – 20:08.0
—
Summer Schuster – 20:16.6
Rebecca O’Keefe – 20:18.7
Jaci Sievers – 20:22.7
Msgana Araya – 20:32.3
Callie Tucker – 20:40.5
Men’s 8K – 6th of 14 – 169 points
23. Hudson Betts – 23:19.0
25. Christopher Middleton-Pearson – 23:20.2
39. Pavel Vinduska – 23:40.5
44. Aaron Jones – 23:42.3
46. Gabriel Sanchez – 23:43.1
—
Yonas Haile – 23:46.1
Zach Jaeger – 24:10.1
Brody Chapman – 24:14.5
Thomas Rice – 24:25.7
Canaan Anderson – 25:04.9
…
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