NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Vanderbilt cross country will open its 2025 season at the Belmont Opener Friday at Percy Warner Park in Nashville, Tennessee.
The men’s 5-kilometer race begins at 8:45 a.m., and the women’s competition starts at 9:15 a.m.
Vanderbilt’s men’s team returns several of its regional competitors from 2024, including Michael Skora who won the Belmont Opener last fall. Skora was the top Vandy finisher at every cross country meet in 2024. Additional returners for the men include Brady Bliven, who was the second Commodore finisher at regionals and the SEC championships, and Dylan Ballard, who scored at two meets last season and ran a personal best at SECs.
The Dores added five new faces on the men’s side. Juniors Luke Churchwell and Brody Chapman bring SEC experience from Georgia and Tennessee, respectively. Three-time All-American Sam Darmanie, Tommy O’Brien, who was named all-state in cross country twice, and two-time Illinois state cross country champion Finn Richards will begin their collegiate cross country careers this fall.
While the women’s roster graduated six seniors, notable returners include 2025 USATF U20 5k champion Lily Kriegel and Claire Petersen, who finished top 10 among freshmen at the 2024 SEC Cross Country Championships. In 2024, Kriegel was the top freshman finisher and third overall at the Belmont Opener, helping lead the women’s team to a first-place finish. Junior Bria Bennis and senior Audrey Allman will bring veteran experience to the women’s roster this fall.
Newcomers for the women include graduate transfer Tyla Lumley, who was an all-region honoree and the Missouri Valley Conference runner-up for cross country in 2024. Vanderbilt cross country’s first-year student-athletes include 10-time Greek national champion Myrto Valacha, Hannah Huyler, named first-team all-state for cross country in 2024, and Betsy Jepkemei, who owns a personal-best of 9:46 in the 3,000 meters (Iten, Kenya – approx. 7,000ft.).
Admission to the Belmont Opener is free, and more information is available on Belmont’s athletics website. Live results are available online.
Fans can follow Vanderbilt cross country on X, Instagram and Facebook at @VandyXCTrack for updates.