MEMPHIS, Tenn. – The Alabama men’s and women’s cross country teams posted a pair of top-10 finishes at the Memphis Twilight Classic Saturday night (4 Sept) to open the 2021 season.
The Alabama women, led by Megan Patton’s ninth-place finish, tallied 122 points to take fourth place out of 22 teams. The Crimson Tide put four women in the top 25 over the 5-kilometre course, including Patton, Leahrose Mami (12th), Kerri Walsh (17th) and Riley Schelp (25th).
Rich Saenz took 16th place to lead the Crimson Tide men to a seventh-place finish out of 20 teams, after totalling 175 points. Overall, Alabama put four in the top 50 of the men’s four-mile race, including Saenz, Scott Platek (39th) along with rookies Gavin Saacke (36th) and Collin Jones (48th).
Up Next for the Crimson Tide
- The Crimson Tide returns to action on September 17 at the North Alabama Showcase in Huntsville, Ala.
Women’s Team Finishes at Memphis Twilight Classic
1. Ole Miss, 38 pts
2. Middle Tennessee State, 80 pts
3. Lee, 82 pts
4. Alabama, 122 pts
5. Western Kentucky, 166 pts
6. Miss State, 184 pts
7. Memphis, 189 pts
8. Central Arkansas, 195 pts
9. Arkansas Tech, 214 pts
10. UAB, 230 pts
Alabama’s Individual Results at Memphis Twilight Classic
9. Megan Patton, 18:04.33
12. Leahrose Mami, 18:19.10
17. Kerri Walsh, 18:27.03
25. Riley Schelp, 18:36.29
62. Lauren Turner, 19:43.45
68. Keaton Morrison, 19:49.12
70. Rebecca Billman, 19:51.46
85. Savannah Noethlich, 20:11.17
Men’s Team Finishes at Memphis Twilight Classic
1. Lee, 44 pts
2. Alabama-Huntsville, 68 pts
3. Ole Miss, 93 pts
4. Middle Tennessee State, 107 pts
5. Central Arkansas, 148 pts
6. Memphis, 170 pts
7. Alabama, 175 pts
8. Montevallo, 249 pts
9. Western Kentucky, 251 pts
10. Christian Brothers, 310 pts
Alabama’s Individual Results at Memphis Twilight Classic
16. Rich Saenz, 20:09.51
36. Gavin Saacke, 20:38.28
39. Scott Platek, 20:40.49
48. Collin Jones, 20:56.50
54. Brady Barton, 21:02.54
75. Alex Mielke, 21:29.84