TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Southern University cross country will look to gear up for the Southwestern Athletic Conference Championships with the Crimson Classic in Tuscaloosa, Alabama hosted by the University of Alabama on Friday.
WHAT: Crimson Classic
WHEN: Friday, Oct. 14 | 8:30 a.m. (M); 9:20 a.m. (W)
WHERE: Harry Pritchett Running Park | Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Southern has not run since September 23 but has been training hard and were able to practice on the brand-new track.
"We had break from competition," head coach
Teremine White said. "We have been working hard. We will have six guys and six ladies running this weekend. We are 12 days away from SWAC Championships and this meet with prepare us."
The Crimson Classic is loaded with Southeastern Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference and other major programs from around the country.
The men's field will run an 8k starting at 8:30 a.m. Southern will see No. 22 Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Clemson, Florida State, Alcorn State, Belmont, Florida International, Jackson State, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, North Florida, Samford, South Alabama and Wallace State.
The Lady Jaguars will run a 6k starting at 9:20 a.m. That filed is composed of No. 6 Alabama, Auburn, Georgia, Mississippi State, South Carolina, No. 24 Florida State, Clemson, Alabama A&M, Alcorn State, Belmont, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, Middle Tennessee, Samford, South Alabama, Southern Miss and Wallace State.
Last time out, the Jaguars competed at the LSU Invitational, where the men finished third and women finished sixth.
The men were led by
Nicholas Scott with a time of 19:56.5 in the 6k event.
Lafayette Collins, Christian Phillips and Bryce Campbell all finished in the top-25. Coach White had high praises for his two freshman and their importance to the team.
"Christian Phillips is very motivated and pushes the other athletes," White said. "Bryce is another freshman that has been working hard. They feed off each other and push the upper classman."
Camile Lewis and
Shani Simon lead the women. This will be Lewis' second meet as a Lady Jaguar, while Simon has become a staple in the long-distance races for Southern. Trinity Kirk, Sierra Sessions and
Kashi Roberts are normally sprinters for the Lady Jaguars but are stepping up to do their part for the cross-country team.
Destiny Mitchell will return and run her first race this season.
"We want to finish as high as we can in this meet," White continued. "We want to be able to put ourselves in the top half of the SWAC and have a chance to win the conference. This meet will help us do that."
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