Sept. 16, 2011

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Two weeks after the University of Kentucky men’s and women’s cross country teams each earned top-three finishes at the season-opening Belmont-VU Opener, the Wildcats are now heading back to the Volunteer State to compete in the Tennessee Invitational in Knoxville, Tenn., beginning Saturday.

Hosted by the University of Tennessee, the Tennessee Invitational is a dual meet between the Wildcats and Volunteers at the Lambert Acres Golf Club. The men’s team will race first in an 8K race at 9:00 a.m. ET. The women’s 5K race will follow at 9:45 a.m. Tennessee is also hosting the Southeastern Conference Championship meet at the end of October.

“It’s on the SEC course so it’s an opportunity for us to have some experience and exposure,” UK head coach Don Weber said. “This is a good opportunity for our teams to get to see the course so we can be further prepared for the conference meet.”

The Kentucky men’s team is coming off a first-place finish at the Belmont-VU Opener where junior Luis Orta won the men’s 5K race with a time of 15:22.40. Following the race, Orta was named the SEC Runner of the Week. Kentucky had four runners finish inside the top 15, including Orta, sophomore Stacey Eden, freshman MacKay Wilson and senior Josh Nadzam.

The women’s side finished the Belmont-VU Opener in third place. Junior Chelsea Oswald led the way for Kentucky with an 11th-place time of 14:34.25. Oswald was followed by sophomore Taylor Wendler, who finished in 13th place, and senior Megan Broderick who recorded the 16th-best time at the meet.

The Kentucky men’s cross country team made its first appearance of the season in the US Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association regional team rankings. Kentucky is ranked No. 15 in the Southeast region in the latest polls. In the women’s polls Kentucky checks in at No. 11 this week in the Southeast region.

For all UK cross country news and information, go to UKathletics.com.