Oct. 17, 2014
Women’s Results | Men’s Results
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The Georgia Tech women’s cross country team placed second in the 5K and the men’s team took third in the 8K Friday at the Crimson Classic, the last meet before the ACC Championships on Oct. 31. Senior Kelly Meyer paced the Tech women with an 11th-place finish and senior Jeremy Greenwald led the Yellow Jacket men, crossing the line 14th.
“We got another strong outing from the women,” head coach Alan Drosky said. “We came in ranked behind a number of teams we were able to beat today and the women have some great momentum as we head into the championship portion of our schedule. Our top five women have been very consistent. And our depth has been a real strength.”
The Yellow Jacket women tallied 116 points behind Alabama’s 68 points for second place out of 25 teams. Auburn, who is ranked seventh in the South Region, rounded out the top three team finishers with 130 points.
Led by Meyer’s 17:47 pace, senior Katie Townsend (15th; 17:49), sophomore Hayley Keadey (24th; 18:03), senior Allison Brackin (27th; 18:08) and sophomore Melissa Fairey (39th; 18:17) finished in the top 40 out of 225 competitors. Morgan Jackson (42nd; 18:21) and Erin Radcliffe (51st; 18:25) ran solid for Georgia Tech as well.
“Kelly Meyer ran outstanding to lead us; Townsend, Keadey, and Fairey have been solid all season,” Drosky said. “It was great to see Allison Brackin bounce back from an off day last time out to finish fourth for us. After them, Jackson, Radcliffe, Diana Pressel, and Laura Nelson are really coming on in the last few weeks.”
As a team, the men placed third out of 24 teams with 133 points, just three points behind second-place finisher, Auburn, who is ranked second in the South Region according to USTFCCCA, and ahead of Alabama, who is ranked sixth in the South Region. Clemson won the men’s race with 123 points.
“The men have been solid all season and were again today in finishing a very close third,” Drosky said. “We’re a little disappointed to not get the win, but today was an important race for the team. We came in with a number of guys a little banged up and a little tired, but they learned to trust their fitness and pulled out a good team effort. As we taper now for the championship meets, we should be able to line up fresher and confident.”
Senior Jeremy Greenwald crossed the line first for Tech in a time of 25:30, and junior Zane Coburn followed closely after in 16th place (25:34). Senior Brandon Lasater (31st; 25:52), sophomore Patrick Fleming (34th; 25:57) and senior Nat Estes (38th; 26:01) rounded out Tech’s top five finishers in a field of 197 runners. Freshman Nahom Solomon (54th; 26:17) and senior Alec Clifford (65th; 26:29) also ran solid 8K’s for Tech.
“Greenwald led us again even though he was off a bit today,” Drosky said. “Coburn had a great effort and looked superb. And Lasater is rounding into form after coming back from an injury. Fleming ran well again, and Estes has put two solid efforts back to back. Solomon and Clifford rounded out our top seven with solid races from both of them.”
Both teams return to action Oct. 31 at the ACC Championships in Earlysville, Va. hosted by the Virginia Cavaliers.
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