KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The No. 11/No. 9 Alabama men’s and women’s cross country teams opened its season at the Tennessee Cross Country Invitational with second-and-third-place team finishes, respectively.

Crimson Tide newcomers highlighted the morning of racing, as Hamdani Benahmed (19:47.3 | fourth) and Jackson Hogsed (19:55.6 | fifth) led the UA men in the 4-mile race before freshman Izzie Sullivan clocked a seventh-place finish (17:16.62) over the 3-mile course.

UA Men 4-Mile Rundown

• The Crimson Tide used a 4-5-7 finish from newcomers Benahmed and Hogsed and returner Jackson Harris (20:08.2) to clock the three-fastest UA times
• Kai Connor (20:18.7 | 10^th) and Evan Simpson (20:52.1 | 16^th) rounded out UA’s scoring five
• Only Alabama (42 points) and first-place team finisher Tennessee (20 points) placed runners in the top 10, as Kentucky took third (65 points) and Chattanooga finished fourth (99 points)

UA Women 3-Mile Rundown

• Following Sullivan’s seventh-place finish was Taylor McCue (17:35.02 | 12^th), Leah Kleekamp (17:38.11 | 13^th), Avery Ruesch (17:51.04 | 15^th) and Kaylie Crews (18:07.56 | 18^th) who rounded out UA’s scoring five
• Alabama finished third (65 points), behind second-place finisher Kentucky (37 points) and team winner Tennessee (25 points), as Chattanooga finished fourth (112 points)

“With a younger team, I felt they handled and executed their race plans very well. This gives us a good starting point as we begin the season, and now it’s about building consistency and confidence with each race. From here, it’s onwards and upwards as we turn our sights to the next meet.”

Up Next

• Alabama will take a week off before traveling to Huntsville, Ala., for the Southern Showcase on Sept. 12
• The competition marks the first of two meets this season held at John Hunt Cross Country Running Park, as the NCAA South Regional Championships (Nov. 14) will also take place in Huntsville

Alabama Men – Individual Results | 4 Mile

4. Hamdani Benahmed | 19:47.24

5. Jackson Hogsed | 19:55.57

7. Jackson Harris | 20:08.16

10. Kai Connor | 20:18.67

16. Evan Simpson | 20:52.03

Alabama Women – Individual Results | 3 Mile

7. Izzie Sullivan | 17:16.62

12. Taylor McCue | 17:35.02

13. Leah Kleekamp | 17:38.11

15. Avery Ruesch | 17:51.04

18. Kaylie Crews | 18:07.56

19. Autumn Headrick | 18:08.78

23. Kristen Aguilera | 19:28.90