Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #24 Vanderbilt Women
Saucony Flo50 XC Countdown: #24 Vanderbilt Women
Probable Top Five:
SR Sara Barron (2:09 800; 4:43 Mile; 9:34 3K; 14th SEC XC ’14)
SR Katherine Delaney (2:09 800; 4:24 1500; 9th SEC XC ’14)
JR Carmen Carlos (4:28 1500; 9:40 3K; 16:31 5K)
SR Vanessa Valentine (9:37 3K; 16:53 5K; 35:34 10K)
FR Caroline Pietrzyk (10:21 2 Mile; 14th FL ’14)
Impact Freshmen/Transfers:
Caroline Pietrzyk via Malibu, CA (10:21 2 Mile; 14th FL ’14)
Epiphany Devon Grisbaum via Ocean City, NJ (10:39 3200)
Rebecca Jacobson via Flower Mound, TX (4:55 1600; 10:50 3200)
Ginger Hutton via Aspen, CO (2:12 800; 5:03 Mile)
Analysis:
The last time Vanderbilt won the SEC Cross Country Championship was in 2011. I’m not saying it will happen again, but it could very well happen again. Led by seniors Sara Barron and Katherine Delaney, the Commodores may be able to capitalize on Arkansas losing their 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th runners from 2014.
Coach Steve Keith is doing a great job bringing in top recruits to Nashville. Caroline Pietrzyk ran 10:21 in the elite 2 mile at the Arcadia Invite last spring and was 14th at the Foot Locker in the fall. It’s always hard to tell with freshman, but she took first at the California State XC Championships by over 15 seconds in 2014 and will be a good fit for the Commodores.
Barron has been very impressive at Vanderbilt. She’s been a steady SEC scorer and improved her track times from the 800m up to the 3K in 2015. Delaney went from placing 83rd at the SEC XC Champs in 2013 to 9th in 2014. If she can replicate that type of improvement again, how low can Vanderbilt go?