Cross Country Wraps Up AAC Championship in Lankeland, Fla

Friday, October 29

TAMPA, FL

Tulane University

American Athletic Conference

Photo by: Parker Waters

Cross Country Wraps Up AAC Championship in Lankeland, Fla

Oct 29, 2021 | Cross Country

By: Samantha Larsen

LAKELAND, Florida – The Tulane cross country team competed in the American Athletic Conference Championships on Friday morning, with graduate student Therese Olshanski and junior Evans Kipchumba leading the way for the Green Wave in their respective races at Holloway Park.

Olshanski was first to cross the finish line for the Olive and Blue, finishing in 9th with a time of 21:42.1, she was the second ever All Conference selection.

"Therese executed a fantastic race today, she left nothing on the table," director of cross country/track and field Adrian Myers said. "I am immensely proud of Therese's progress and growth in her time here in uptown. We're only beginning to skim what she's capable of. Again, so proud of her race execution and just grit shown today."

Laura Croll followed behind with a 23:01.6 landing her a 40^th place finish. Macy Turcotte came in 63rd at 23:59.0 and sophomore Brenda Ellis in 76th at 24:29.9. Abigal Heck finished in 25:52.3 to stand in 89th.

Averaging a 23:49 time in the 6K, the Tulane women finished in 10th overall. Tulsa also won the women's conference championship, while Wichita State's Yazmine Wright was the first to finish the race with a time of 21:03.3.

Kipchumba was the first to cross the finish line for the men, recording a time of 25:21.0 in the 8K to finish in 22nd. Tucker Poshard was right behind Kipchumba, checking in in 43rd overall at 26:20.0.

Bethwell Tum, Adam Aldahair, Iker Yturralde, Jamie Polakoff and Ian Valdez all finished within 12 places of one and other, with times ranging from 27 to 30 minutes.

The men's team averaged a time of 27:05 in the race, beating USF to finish eighth overall. Tulsa earned the AAC Championship title, while Tulsa' Scott Beattie was the individual champion with a time of 23:49.2.

Averaging a 23:49 time in the 6K, the Tulane women finished in 10th overall. Tulsa also won the women's conference championship, while Wichita State's Yazmine Wright was the first to finish the race with a time of 21:03.3.

"We are where we are right now and will improve upon it dramatically by next fall," Myers said. "I'm excited about where we are going as a program but this is just where we are right now. We finished about where I thought we would."

The Green Wave are set to head to Waco, Texas in two weeks, competing in the NCAA South Central Regional on Friday, Nov. 12.

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