The University of Mississippi Athletics
Photo by: LSU Athletics
Rebel Men Second, Women Fourth at UAB Blazer Classic
10/16/2020 | Cross Country
Junior Mario Garcia Romo Finished Second by Less Than One Second
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Ole Miss men's and women's cross country closed out its regular season at the high-powered UAB Blazer Classic, with the Rebel men putting together a solid race to finish runner-up and the women taking fourth on Friday morning.
The Rebel men charged over the final four kilometers of the Green 8K race, erasing 70 points off its total thanks to a front-pack charge of junior Mario Garcia Romo (second, 23:25.75), sophomore Cole Bullock (third, 23:26.00) and senior Waleed Suliman (sixth, 23:30.39), as well as a second-pack burst over the final stretch from senior Michael Coccia (17th, 24:13.93) and junior Ben Savino (22nd, 24:26.33). However, despite the effort, Ole Miss took second at 50 points behind a strong team race from Arkansas, which placed six Razorbacks within the top-10 for 29 total points.
Garcia Romo nearly came away with his second individual win of the season, falling less than three tenths of a second behind Arkansas' Amon Kemboi (23:25.46) for the runner-up finish. Garcia Romo won USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors at the season opening SEC Preview on Sept. 19, where he edged out Arkansas' Emmanuel Cheboson by nearly two seconds at the line.
In the women's Green 6K to open the morning, the Rebel women took fourth place overall in a race that saw a pitched battle for spots two through six. Ole Miss had hung in fourth place through the first 3K, but jumped ahead to third and was within one point of Florida State for second place with one kilometer left, but a surging Georgia Tech squad leapfrogged them both for second place at 104, with Florida State taking third at 115 and the Rebels fourth with 118. Arkansas, the defending NCAA Champions, took the team title with 42 points.
Senior Anna Elkin led the way for Ole Miss for the third straight meet this season, finishing 11th within one second of her 6K PR at 20:32.21. Fellow senior Victoria Simmons wasn't far behind in 16th place at 20:41.34, and other Rebel scorers included Clio Ozanne-Jaques (30th, 21:10.72), Skylar Boogerd (31st, 21:11.72) and Ryann Helmers (33rd, 21:14.48).
Ole Miss now looks ahead to the close of this shortened 2020 season: the SEC Cross Country Championships, which will be held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on October 30.
Men's Green 8K Team Scores
1. Arkansas – 29
2. Ole Miss – 50
3. Florida State – 97
4. Tennessee – 110
5. Georgia Tech – 138
6. Florida – 196
7. Middle Tennessee – 198
8. Kentucky – 202
9. Vanderbilt – 203
Men's Individual Results
2. Mario Garcia Romo – 23:25.75
3. Cole Bullock – 23:26.00
6. Waleed Suliman – 23:30.39
17. Michael Coccia – 24:13.93
22. Ben Savino – 24:26.33
32. Dalton Hengst – 24:39.73
38. Cade Bethmann – 24:45.27
44. Robinson Snider – 24:50.31
73. Tyler Moore – 25:27.07
74. Jack Filan – 25:28.94
Women's Green 6K Team Scores
1. Arkansas – 42
2. Georgia Tech – 104
3. Florida State – 115
4. Ole Miss – 118
5. Tennessee – 121
6. Kentucky – 126
7. Middle Tennessee – 167
8. Vanderbilt – 221
9. Florida – 224
10. Mississippi State – 235
Women's Individual Results
11. Anna Elkin – 20:32.21
16. Victoria Simmons – 20:41.34
30. Clio Ozanne-Jaques – 21:10.72
31. Skylar Boogerd – 21:11.72
33. Ryann Helmers – 21:14.48
38. Emma McClellan – 21:23.30
40. Loral Winn – 21:24.54 – PR
43. Nicole Rice – 21:27.82
65. Ylvi Traxler – 22:03.10
70. Morgan Claire Rose – 22:05.46 – PR
84. Brooke Gilmore – 22:25.46 – PR
89. Cate Tracht – 22:36.45
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
The Rebel men charged over the final four kilometers of the Green 8K race, erasing 70 points off its total thanks to a front-pack charge of junior Mario Garcia Romo (second, 23:25.75), sophomore Cole Bullock (third, 23:26.00) and senior Waleed Suliman (sixth, 23:30.39), as well as a second-pack burst over the final stretch from senior Michael Coccia (17th, 24:13.93) and junior Ben Savino (22nd, 24:26.33). However, despite the effort, Ole Miss took second at 50 points behind a strong team race from Arkansas, which placed six Razorbacks within the top-10 for 29 total points.
Garcia Romo nearly came away with his second individual win of the season, falling less than three tenths of a second behind Arkansas' Amon Kemboi (23:25.46) for the runner-up finish. Garcia Romo won USTFCCCA National Athlete of the Week honors at the season opening SEC Preview on Sept. 19, where he edged out Arkansas' Emmanuel Cheboson by nearly two seconds at the line.
In the women's Green 6K to open the morning, the Rebel women took fourth place overall in a race that saw a pitched battle for spots two through six. Ole Miss had hung in fourth place through the first 3K, but jumped ahead to third and was within one point of Florida State for second place with one kilometer left, but a surging Georgia Tech squad leapfrogged them both for second place at 104, with Florida State taking third at 115 and the Rebels fourth with 118. Arkansas, the defending NCAA Champions, took the team title with 42 points.
Senior Anna Elkin led the way for Ole Miss for the third straight meet this season, finishing 11th within one second of her 6K PR at 20:32.21. Fellow senior Victoria Simmons wasn't far behind in 16th place at 20:41.34, and other Rebel scorers included Clio Ozanne-Jaques (30th, 21:10.72), Skylar Boogerd (31st, 21:11.72) and Ryann Helmers (33rd, 21:14.48).
Ole Miss now looks ahead to the close of this shortened 2020 season: the SEC Cross Country Championships, which will be held in Baton Rouge, Louisiana on October 30.
Men's Green 8K Team Scores
1. Arkansas – 29
2. Ole Miss – 50
3. Florida State – 97
4. Tennessee – 110
5. Georgia Tech – 138
6. Florida – 196
7. Middle Tennessee – 198
8. Kentucky – 202
9. Vanderbilt – 203
Men's Individual Results
2. Mario Garcia Romo – 23:25.75
3. Cole Bullock – 23:26.00
6. Waleed Suliman – 23:30.39
17. Michael Coccia – 24:13.93
22. Ben Savino – 24:26.33
32. Dalton Hengst – 24:39.73
38. Cade Bethmann – 24:45.27
44. Robinson Snider – 24:50.31
73. Tyler Moore – 25:27.07
74. Jack Filan – 25:28.94
Women's Green 6K Team Scores
1. Arkansas – 42
2. Georgia Tech – 104
3. Florida State – 115
4. Ole Miss – 118
5. Tennessee – 121
6. Kentucky – 126
7. Middle Tennessee – 167
8. Vanderbilt – 221
9. Florida – 224
10. Mississippi State – 235
Women's Individual Results
11. Anna Elkin – 20:32.21
16. Victoria Simmons – 20:41.34
30. Clio Ozanne-Jaques – 21:10.72
31. Skylar Boogerd – 21:11.72
33. Ryann Helmers – 21:14.48
38. Emma McClellan – 21:23.30
40. Loral Winn – 21:24.54 – PR
43. Nicole Rice – 21:27.82
65. Ylvi Traxler – 22:03.10
70. Morgan Claire Rose – 22:05.46 – PR
84. Brooke Gilmore – 22:25.46 – PR
89. Cate Tracht – 22:36.45
For more information on Ole Miss Track & Field and Cross Country, follow the Rebels on Twitter (@OleMissTrack), Facebook and Instagram.
Players Mentioned
Who To Watch: Ole Miss Track and Field
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