UKXC Men’s Team Second, Women Fourth at Louisville Classic

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Brennan Fields ran a 8,000-meter cross country personal best 23:45.00 to finish second in the individual race and lead the Kentucky men’s team to a runner-up podium spot at the 17th Annual Louisville Classic Saturday at E.P. “Tom” Sawyer State Park.

North Central Illinois won with 102 points, eight ahead of the UK men’s team.

The UK women’s team placed fourth on 175 points.
 
This weekend’s race was UK’s penultimate competition before the start of postseason races, which begin with the Southeastern Conference Championships on Oct. 26. UK will race at the Penn State National Open on Oct. 12.
 
Men’s team report
Fields finished as runner-up against a 252-man field after he won the Bluegrass Invitational in his last race.

Ben Young finished eighth in 23:56.70 to be UK’s No. 2 finisher in his cross-country season debut. It was his first sub-24-minute 8k as a collegian.
 
Patrick Schaefer was 24th in 24:34.20, Trevor Warren was 33rd in 24:38.00 and Cole Dowdy was 46th in 24:51.80 to round out Kentucky’s top-five.
 
Women’s team report
Caitlin Shepard was UK’s top finisher, 21st overall with a 16-second cross-country PR 5k time of 17:26.80.

Kaityn Lacy ran 17:35.20 to place 24th overall and as the second Wildcat to cross the finish line. Sophie Carrier finished 44th in 17:52.70, Rachel Boice was 47th in 17:58.50 and Kelli Walsh was UK’s No. 5 finisher, 56th overall in 18:11.80.
 
Cross country refresher
Points are scored in cross country corresponding to finishing place. The place of each of the top five finishers on each team are added up and the team with the lowest total wins. Placers outside a team’s top five cannot score so finishers on other teams that might finish behind a team’s No. 6 or No. 7 finisher can get a point total fewer than their overall place in the race.
 
Men’s team results
1. North Central (Illinois): 102
2. Kentucky: 110
3. Belmont: 117
4. Louisville: 155
5. ETSU: 175
 
UK men’s individual results
2. Brennan Fields: 23:45.00
8. Ben Young: 23:56.70
24. Patrick Schaefer: 24:34.20 (23 points)
33. Trevor Warren: 24:38.00 (32 points)
46. Cole Dowdy: 24:51.80 (45 points)
57. Matthew Thomas: 25:03.60
92. Tanner Dowdy: 25:31.10
133. Gabe Szalay: 25:46.60
140. Dylan Allen: 25:48.30
 
Women’s team results
1. Michigan: 46
2. EKU: 120
3. SMU: 160
4. Kentucky: 175
5. MTSU: 248
 
UK women’s individual results
21. Caitlin Shepard: 17:26.80 (19 points)
24. Kaitlyn Lacy: 17:35.20 (22 points)
44. Sophie Carrier: 17:52.70 (40 points)
47. Rachel Boice: 17:58.50 (43 points)
56. Kelli Walsh: 18:11.80 (51 points)
63. Madisyn Peeples: 18:19.70
78 Mallory Liggett: 18:27.90
84. Sarah Michels: 18:30.30
170. Isabella Galvez: 19:28.90
 
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