Former coach and reigning NCAA Division 1 10,000-meter champion lead Volunteers in 5-mile men’s matchup; North Carolina State and New Mexico scheduled to clash with Alabama and host Notre Dame in women’s 5-kilometer race, with potential reunion of past Tennessee teammates Seymour and Thronson
By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor
Normally, a September showdown involving the North Carolina State and New Mexico women’s cross country teams would be the most significant storyline entering the Joe Piane Invitational on Friday at University of Notre Dame’s Burke Golf Course.
But there are multiple interesting subplots to support the matchup involving two of the top three women’s programs in the country, including one involving a member of the top-ranked Wolfpack lineup.
The women’s blue 5-kilometer race at 10:30 a.m. EDT is expected to showcase the first matchup involving North Carolina State graduate student-athlete Sydney Seymour and former Tennessee teammate and Notre Dame graduate student-athlete Katie Thronson.
The Tennessee men’s team is also scheduled to participate in the men’s blue 5-mile race at 11:15 a.m. EDT, highlighting the return to Notre Dame for former coach Sean Carlson, along with reigning NCAA Division 1 10,000-meter champion Dylan Jacobs, a graduate student-athlete for the Volunteers.
Nate Kawalec, also a graduate student-athlete for Tennessee, will compete for the first time against his former teammates at North Carolina State.
Tennessee will have an opportunity to face a men’s blue field that includes ranked opponents in No. 14 Notre Dame, No. 22 Montana State, No. 24 Butler, No. 25 Alabama and No. 27 Michigan.
Michigan finished second last year by a 129-150 margin behind Furman, which is not attending this year’s event. Butler took third with 177 points, with Florida State (204) and Southern Utah (207) also scheduled to return.
Nickolas Scudder of Charlotte is the top returning athlete in the 5-mile field, taking third last season in 23:14.9, with Notre Dame’s Matthew Carmody finishing fourth in 23:22.6.
Victor Kiprop of Alabama earned eighth last year in 23:39.1 and Butler’s Barry Keane placed 10th in 23:41.7.
Zach Stewart, who was 26th in the blue 5-mile race in 24:05.3, is the top returning competitor for Michigan.
Duncan Hamilton, an All-American at Montana State, has already produced a pair of victories this season in Bozeman and will be racing for the first time at Joe Piane.
The top three teams and first three…
CLICK HERE to Read the Full Original Article at RunnerSpace News…