Kuck Leads Miami XC at Greater Louisville Classic
CORAL GABLES, Fla. – The University of Miami cross country program got a preview of the 2017 ACC Championships course Saturday morning, racing at the Greater Louisville Classic.
The Hurricanes had 14 entries in the 16th-annual Greater Louisville Classic, one of college cross country’s most-prestigious, regular-season races. The meet featured a bevy of nationally and regionally ranked teams including Auburn, Austin Peay, Belmont, Boise State, Chattanooga, Furman, Illinois, Lipscomb, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Minnesota, North Carolina, Northern Arizona, Samford, South Alabama, Tennessee-Martin, Tennessee State, UAB, Vanderbilt and Wisconsin.
“It was a fast and physical competition today,” Miami distance coach Damon Griffiths said. “You can’t simulate this type of atmosphere at practice, so it was good to be able to get this experience early in the season. We improved in several areas today, but I can still find several points that we have to get better at.”
Nathan Kuck was the top Hurricane men’s finisher for the third straight race, running a personal-best time of 24:49.97 that ranks fourth all-time in the 8K UM history. Fellow senior Sean Grossman was the next Hurricane across the finish line with a time of 25:20.34, while Adam George, Sean Hagert, Jacob Triarsi Matthew Wiefels and Dylan Sykes rounded out the group of Miami men that combined for a score of 723 points.
“Nathan continues to improve each meet, and Sean Grossman bounced back from a tumble in the second mile to run a strong race,” Griffiths said. “Adam and Sean Hagert also looked good in the early miles today.”
Maryam Jawid led the Canes with a time of 18:12.36 in the women’s 5K. The freshman was followed by junior Anne den Otter, who crossed the finish line in 18:34.43. Emma Langlois, Abby Kettle, Simone Vreeland, Carla Rodriguez and Olivia Raymond completed the women’s group that combined for 1,015 points.
“I’m proud of how Maryam worked herself back into the race after she fell in the first half mile,” Griffiths said. “Anne, Emma, Abigail and Simone ran well, but they have to come out of their comfort zone in the early miles.”
Meet results can be found by clicking here.
Following this week’s races in Louisville, the Hurricanes will spend a week training before competing at the USF Invitational on Oct. 13 – their final race before the ACC Cross Country Championships on Oct. 27.
For more information on the 2017 cross country schedule, click here.
Miami Lineups
Men: Nathan Kuck, Sean Grossman, Jacob Triarsi, Adam George, Dylan Sykes, Matthew Wiefels, Sean Hagert
Women: Maryam Jawid, Anne den Otter, Abby Kettle, Emma Langlois, Simone Vreeland, Carla Rodriguez, Olivia Raymond
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