By Alex Boggis, UT Martin Assistant Sports Information Director
MARTIN, Tenn. – The University of Tennessee at Martin cross country program will embark on its 2022 season this weekend, kicking off a four-meet regular season slate leading up to the Ohio Valley Conference Championship in late October.
The Skyhawks return a good stock of athletes on both the men’s and women’s team heading into a new season. UT Martin’s men will look to continue its ascension amongst the ranks of the top flight teams in the league after finishing fourth at the OVC Championship last season while a young women’s squad last season has a full year of experience on the course and will strive to improve upon its seventh place result.
UT Martin’s most decorated individual is graduate athlete Luke McNair who is coming off an All-OVC first team season. McNair ranked as the men’s top finisher in every race last season including a victory at the Soybean Invitational while setting new PRs in the 8k at the Louisville Classic (24:42.7) and 10k at the NCAA South Region Championship (31:13.2).
The men also return seven other athletes who competed last season, including two consistent scoring contributors with George Payne and Will Cahill ranking in the scoring five in each meet. Payne posted an 8k PR at the Louisville Classic of 25:08.9 while Cahill burst onto the scene as a freshman to also set his 8k PR at the Louisville Classic with a time of 25:16.7.
Fellow returners Cole Davis, Hawken Foote, Hudson Hall, Victor Kemboi and Sam Shuman also ran well for the Skyhawks last season and could factor into scoring groups moving forward. Meanwhile, the Skyhawks welcome newcomers Jack Blyth, Chance Craig, Colten Glosser, Luke Johnson, Ethan Knight and Ben Ruscoe to the team.
The Skyhawk women are led by junior Lilia Alvarez who ranks as the team’s top returning scorer. Alvarez excelled in her debut season for UT Martin by scoring in each meet and ranking as the team’s top performer at the Louisville Classic and NCAA South Region Championship. Her best 5k time came at the Louisville Classic where she finished in 18:54.8.
The women also feature two other consistent scorers from last season including Lydia Tankersley and Tori Holliday. Tankersley was in the scoring group four times last season with her best 5k time coming at the Louisville Classic (19:08.0). Holliday joined the scoring pack in all six meets while posting her best 5k time at the Louisville Classic at 19:41.8.
The team also welcomes back Rita Eimer, Kaitlyn Loyet and Jill Plotner from last season’s squad while welcoming newcomers Clara Alford, Gabby Brown, Alli Manley, Cierra Nord and Maggie Roy.
UT Martin opens the season on Saturday, Sept. 3 with an appearance at the City Auto Memphis Twilight XC Classic before heading to the Golden Eagle Invitational on Friday, Sept. 16 in Cookeville. The Skyhawks will open the three-race month of October at the Live in Lou Classic on Saturday, Oct. 1 in Louisville, Ky. before heading south to the Blazer Classic in Birmingham, Ala. on Friday, Oct. 14.
The Skyhawks will put their preparations to the test on Saturday, Oct. 29 when competing at the OVC Cross Country Championship hosted by Tennessee Tech.
The season will conclude at the NCAA South Regional Championship on Friday, Nov. 11 in Huntsville, Ala.
Graphic courtesy of UT Martin Sports Information