In what was the largest field Tulane has competed in so far this year, the Green Wave just could not replicate the success they had in Lake Charles, La., during their last competition.
"We didn't run well," stated director of Tulane cross country and track and field Eric Peterson. "It's an unfortunate team results for both programs, knowing that we had much higher expectations in results for this particular competition just two weeks before the Conference USA Championship."
Out of 26 teams, the women's program scored a total of 475 points. Junior Paige Callahan led the way for the women's squad, placing 60th with a time of 18:31.62 during the 5K portion of the event at the Harry Pritchett Running Park.
Two women in freshman Katharine Smiley (18:52.61) and sophomore Mikayla Sonneborn (18:58.87) notched personal bests, coming in at 84th and 91st, respectively, out of over 200 runners.
Freshman Sara Kebede ran a 19:49.85 for the 132nd spot while senior Callie Turlington came in at 152nd with a time of 20:14.08 to round out the competition for the Green Wave.
The men's team, competing in an 8K, had an identical 19th place finish, scoring a total of 552 out of 23 teams on the evening. Sophomore Adam Yohanan paced the men's team with a time of 26:39.26, crossing the finish line in 89th place. Junior Geoff Zelek and freshman Jack Curtis were the next two to finish for the Green Wave, as Zelek placed 119th with a time of 27:24.68 and Curtis came in at 135th with a time of 27:50.52.
Freshman Kade Kistner managed to best his personal record by finishing in 28:04.69, placing 142nd on the evening. Sophomore Jack White was the fifth and final scorer for the men's team, wrapping up in 149th place with a time of 28:22.39.
Sophomore Nicholas Meloro made his season debut on the evening, as well, finishing in 170th place with a time of 30:01.08.
Despite the three personal bests achieved on the day, Peterson knows he can get more out of his athletes in preparation for the postseason.
"We are going to rededicate ourselves across the board to coaching better and preparing better and correcting the things that I know are fixable before we head off to the conference championship," Peterson stated.
While the weather, which dipped into the lower 70s for the first time in quite a while, or the large field could have played a part in the Green Wave not reaching their goals on the evening, Peterson is confident he can get the team prepared for the more grueling portion of their schedule that is yet to come.
"Too many of the athletes looked flat today, from a competitive stand point," said Peterson. "That's something I know I can fix with our training schedule."
Tulane will head to Denton, Texas, next for the Conference USA Championship, hosted by Conference USA newcomer North Texas at the Eagle Point Cross Country Course on Nov. 2.
Fans can follow the Tulane track and field and cross country programs on Twitter (@GreenWaveXCTF) or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/TulaneXCTF.
Women Team Results
1. Alabama, 54 points
2. Mississippi State, 80
3. Tennessee, 97
4. Auburn, 122
5. Texas-Arlington, 188
6. Vanderbilt, 196
7. Belmont, 211
8. Stephen F. Austin, 246
9. Southern Miss., 248
10. Florida State, 258
11. Georgia State, 275
12. South Alabama, 335
13. South Florida, 391
14. Davidson, 392
15. Alabama State, 393
16. Samford, 416
17. LSU, 438
18. Jacksonville State, 457
19. Tulane, 475
20. Houston, 513
21. Troy, 554
22. Mississippi Valley, 631
23. Loyola-New Orleans, 667
24. Brenau University, 674
25. UL-Monroe, 703
26. Alabama A&M, 813
Tulane Women's Entries (out of 210)
60. Paige Callahan, 18:31.62 (adj.-58)
84. Katharine Smiley, 18:52.61 (adj.-79)*
91. Mikayla Sonneborn, 18:58.87 (adj.- 85)*
132. Sara Kebede, 19:49.85 (adj.-119)
152. Callie Turlington, 20:14.08 (adj.-134)
Men Team Results
1. Auburn, 45 points
2. Texas-Arlington, 85
3. Stephen F. Austin, 105
4. Mississippi State, 110
5. Belmont, 128
6. Rice, 155
7. Alabama, 175
8. Samford, 183
9. Houston, 224
10. South Alabama, 269
11. Florida State, 280
12. Louisiana Tech, 337
13. LSU, 376
14. UL-Monroe, 392
15. Vanderbilt, 439
16. Sam Houston State, 446
17. Troy, 525
18. Jacksonville State, 541
19. Tulane, 552
20. Mississippi Valley, 562
21. South Florida, 578
22. Loyola-New Orleans, 649
23. Alabama State, 657
Tulane Men's Entries (out of 187)
89. Adam Yohanan, 26:39.26 (adj. -81)
119. Geoff Zelek, 27:24.68 (adj.-105)
135. Jack Curtis, 27:50.52 (adj. -117)
142. Kade Kistner, 28:04.69 (adj.-122) *
149. Jack White, 28:22.39 (adj.-127)
170. Nicholas Meloro, 30:01.08 (adj.-143)
*=personal best