Cross Country Travels To Alabama For Crimson Classic

Friday, October 18

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

University of Georgia

Crimson Classic

Photo by: Huntsville Sports Commission

Cross Country Travels To Alabama For Crimson Classic

October 17, 2024 | Cross Country

ATHENS, Ga. – After a month-long training block, the University of Georgia cross country teams are set to return to the course at the Crimson Classic, which will be hosted by the University of Alabama on Friday. The meet will mark the Bulldogs' final regular season meet before heading to College Station, Texas, for the Southeastern Conference Championships in November.

When Do The Starting Guns Fire: The Crimson Classic will begin at 9:30 a.m. ET, opening with the men's 8k event. The women's 6k will follow at 10:20 a.m. with awards to conclude the meet at 11 a.m. Both races will take place at Harry Pritchett Running Park in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Who Is the Competition: Georgia will compete as one of 18 teams in the field at the Crimson Classic. All 18 schools will vie for the women's team title while 14 will compete in the men's race. Two teams in the women's field (No. 7 Alabama and No. 15 Tennessee) and the No. 12 Alabama men's team are ranked in the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Coaches' Poll. Other teams representing the SEC include Missouri, Mississippi State, and South Carolina, while Clemson, FIU, Kennesaw State, Little Rock, Louisiana Monroe, Memphis, North Alabama, North Florida, Samford, South Alabama, Southern Miss, and UAB round out the field.

Weather: Temperatures will be in the mid-50s with sunny skies in Tuscaloosa on race morning.

Live Results: https://gado.gs/c7t

Tribble's Thoughts: "We've had a good block of training over the past four weeks, and we're excited to see how that translates over to the course this Friday," head coach Adam Tribble said.

What Dogs Are Competing: Twenty-two runners are expected to don the Red and Black on Friday. Seniors Cole Heron, KC Heron, and Zack Truitt will lead the way for the men's team and are set to be joined by redshirt sophomore Mark Trammell; sophomores Andrew Balogh, Luke Churchwell, Logan Dingman, John Jessup, Ryan Olree, and Conner Rutherford; and freshmen Conor Clifford, Adam Lippe, Joseph Minecci, and Simon Schabort.

Eight women will represent the Lady Bulldogs in Tuscaloosa. Those runners include senior Gracie O'Neal; juniors Lorel Golden, Katherine Law and Nina Ouellette; sophomores Bella Brick and Ella Kepple; and freshmen Kate Robinson and Izzy Yonas. Law will make her season debut when the starting gun fires on Friday morning.

Bulldog Debuts: Nine runners competed in the Red and Black for the first time at the Stan Sims Opener on Aug. 30. Clifford, Lippe, Minecci, Robinson, Schabort, Trammell, and Yonas all debuted in the Kennesaw State-hosted meet before competing again at the Southern Showcase on Sept. 13. Other Bulldogs who made their debuts in the season-opening meet were freshmen Elizabeth Cowley and Kayla Dickerson.

Last Time Out: The Bulldogs last competed at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Ala., on Sept. 13. The Georgia men took fifth place as a team in the 8k race behind a runner-up performance from Olree, marking his second-straight top-10 performance to open the season. Georgia's other scorers included Rutherford (23^rd), Trammell (38^th), KC Heron (40^th), and Truitt (50^th).

On the women's side, Georgia placed 11^th in the 6k race as Yonas finished as the Lady Bulldogs' top scorer in 47^th place. Golden extended her scoring streak to eight-consecutive races with a 61^st place finish while Robinson (91^st), O'Neal (95^th), and Ouellette (116^th) also tallied points for Georgia.

What's Up Next: The Bulldogs will open postseason competition with the Southeastern Conference Cross Country Championships on Friday, Nov. 1. The meet will take place in College Station, Texas, with Texas A&M hosting. The Bulldogs will then head to Tallahassee, Fla., for the NCAA South Regional on Nov. 15. Those who qualify will continue their season at the NCAA Championships on Nov. 23 in Madison, Wis.

Where To Find Bulldog News: Results and recaps from the Bulldogs' cross country season will be found at georgiadogs.com. News and updates from Georgia's track and field and cross country teams are always located on X/Instagram at @UGATrack.