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Cross Country Teams Win Season Opener The Alabama men's team scored 23 points to finish ahead of second place Samford while the UA women scored 25 points to beat runner-up Southern Miss.
Sophomore Matt Joyner led Alabama's men to a win in the Crimson Tide's season opener.

Sophomore Matt Joyner led Alabama's men to a win in the Crimson Tide's season opener.

Sept. 1, 2012

Complete Results |  Photo Gallery 

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Alabama cross country teams opened the 2012 season by winning both the men's and women's races of the Crimson Tide Kick Off at the Harry Pritchett Running Park Saturday morning.

"I am extremely happy with the effort and the way we competed today on a very hot day in our first meet of the season," UA head track and field/cross country coach Dan Waterssaid. "We had a lot of people step up and show they've got some talent and that they have bright futures ahead of them."

The men's team scored 23 points to finish ahead of second place Samford while the women scored 25 points to beat runner-up Southern Miss. The men's course ran 6193 meters while the women's course was 3055 meters.

"Both courses ran long today and it was about as hot out there as you can imagine, so the times aren't any indication of what we did out here, you can just throw those out and look at the effort and who beat who," Waters said. "Overall, I couldn't be happier with how we did."

The Tide men had their entire scoring five finish in the top 10, with lone returner Matt Joyner posting the top collegiate finish with a time of 20:44.78. The sophomore was closely followed by freshman Gil Walton, the second collegiate finisher, who turned in a 20:44.80. Freshmen Eric Sivill (4th/20:49.73), Parker Deuel (7th/21:17.17) and Marshall Anderson(9th/21:15.73) rounded out Alabama's scoring.

On the women's side, junior Palee Myrex led the Tide's winning effort, taking third place overall with a time of 11:05.31, leading a rush of six consecutive Alabama finishers. Freshman Katelyn Greenleaf (4th/11:07.71), senior Elsbeth Denton (5th/11:09.74) along with freshmen Rebecca Stover (6th/11:11.25) and Abigail Tankersley(7th/11:11.40) rounded out UA's scoring five.

After opening at home, the Tide takes to the road for its next competition when both the men and women travel to Nashville, Tenn., site of this year's Southeastern Conference Championships, for the Commodore Classic.

Men's Results
1. Alabama 23 pts
2. Samford 41 pts
3. West Alabama 68 pts

Alabama Individual Men's Results
1. Matt Joyner, So. 20:44.78
2. Gil Walton, Fr. 20:44.80
4. Eric Sivill, Fr. 20:49.73
7. Parker Deuel, Fr. 21:17.17
9. Marshall Anderson, Fr. 21:15.73
13. Justin Ahalt, Fr. 21:30.80
16. Nic Wolfe, Fr. 21:36.54

Women's Results
1. Alabama 25 pts
2. Southern Miss 52 pts
3. Samford 82 pts
4. UAB 94 pts
5. West Alabama 121 pts
6. Alabama A&M 151 pts

Alabama Individual Women's Results
3. Palee Myrex, Jr. 11:05.31
4. Katelyn Greenleaf, Fr. 11:07.71
5. Elsbeth Denton, Sr. 11:09.74
6. Rebecca Stover, Fr. 11:11.25
7. Abigail Tankersley, Fr. 11:11.40
8. Susie Kemper, Fr. 11:12.72
12. Claire Turner, Jr. 11:23.07
14. Analisa Patrick, Fr. 11:33.74
18. Kim Ficenec, Fr. 11:56.77
21. Natalie Dimits, Fr. 12:06.40