Liberty runners in front: Katie Sigerud (left) and Catherine Farrell (right)
Liberty XC to Wrap Up Regular Season at XC23 Pre-Nationals
10/12/2023 10:39:00 AM | Cross Country
LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Liberty men's and women's cross country teams will close out the regular-season portion of their 2023 campaign by making a short trip north on Route 29, Saturday morning. The XC23 Pre-Nationals will take place at Panorama Farms in Charlottesville, Va., previewing the venue for next month's 2023 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships.
Making its first visit to Charlottesville this season, the Liberty men's squad will compete in the day's first of four races, the men's orange (B) 8K, at 8:45 a.m. The Lady Flames, who previously raced in the Virginia Invitational on Sept. 23, will take part in the women's blue (championship) 6K at 10:30 a.m.
How to Follow the Flames and Lady Flames
All four of Saturday's races will be televised live on the ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).
Live results, including in-race splits, will be provided by PrimeTime Timing.
Weather Report
As was the case for the Sept. 23 Virginia Invitational in Charlottesville, rain is expected on Saturday with a morning temperature in the upper 50s.
Checking Out the Course
The Liberty men's squad will race at Panorama Farms for the first time since the 2019 NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships. Caleb Olson, who placed 84th that day as a freshman, is the only Flame who competed in that meet who will race on Saturday.
In a field which included 12 nationally-ranked opponents, the Lady Flames finished 19th of 23 women's squads at the Sept. 23 Virginia Invitational. Adelyn Fairley came in 34th overall to pace the team.
Katelyn Locker did not compete at the Virginia Invitational but is expected to return to action on Saturday. Running unattached, she came in 51st at last year's Panorama Farms XC 23 Invitational (Oct. 15, 2022) in a 5K time of 17:49.6.
Saturday will mark the first 6K of the season for the Fairley, Locker and the other Lady Flames racing in Charlottesville, following their 5K races at the Eye Opener (Sept. 1) and Virginia Invitational (Sept. 23).
For the first time, Panorama Farms will play host to the 2023 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, Nov. 18. It will mark this meet's first visit to Virginia since 1987.
Scouting the Competition
The Liberty men's squad figures to compete for its third straight top-five finish to begin the season. Ranked No. 10 in the Southeast Region, the Flames are tied with Washington State (West) and Weber State (Mountain) for the top regional ranking in the orange race. Arizona (No. 11 in West Region) and Utah Valley (No. 12 in Mountain Region) are other possible contenders.
The women's blue race features five nationally-ranked teams, including No. 6 BYU, No. 7 Virginia, No. 17 Oregon, No. 19 Arkansas and No. 24 Utah Valley.
Currently listed No. 10 in the Southeast Region, Liberty will get a chance to race against three opponents currently ahead of the Lady Flames in the regional rankings. Host Virginia is No. 2, followed by No. 6 Wake Forest and No. 9 Virginia Tech.
Looking Back
The Liberty men's cross country team followed up its victory at the season-opening Eye Opener (Sept. 1) by placing fourth of 43 squads in the gold race at the Sept. 30 Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pa. It marked the Flames' best-ever team finish at the Paul Short Run.
Nicholas Kiprotich came in a team-best fourth overall in the 8K, earning his second top-five placement of the season and his first Conference USA Men's Athlete of the Week honor. Teammate Tristian Merchant had previously been named the Flames' first-ever CUSA Men's Athlete of the Week on Sept. 5 after claiming the Eye Opener men's individual title.
Up Next
Men's and women's cross country will be the first Liberty teams ever to compete for Conference USA titles, Oct. 28 at Hobson Grove Park in Bowling Green, Ky. The 2023 Conference USA Cross Country Championships will begin with the men's 8K at 10 a.m. Eastern and will conclude with the women's 6K at 11 a.m. Eastern.
Making its first visit to Charlottesville this season, the Liberty men's squad will compete in the day's first of four races, the men's orange (B) 8K, at 8:45 a.m. The Lady Flames, who previously raced in the Virginia Invitational on Sept. 23, will take part in the women's blue (championship) 6K at 10:30 a.m.
How to Follow the Flames and Lady Flames
All four of Saturday's races will be televised live on the ACC Network Extra (ACCNX).
Live results, including in-race splits, will be provided by PrimeTime Timing.
Weather Report
As was the case for the Sept. 23 Virginia Invitational in Charlottesville, rain is expected on Saturday with a morning temperature in the upper 50s.
Checking Out the Course
The Liberty men's squad will race at Panorama Farms for the first time since the 2019 NCAA Division I Southeast Regional Championships. Caleb Olson, who placed 84th that day as a freshman, is the only Flame who competed in that meet who will race on Saturday.
In a field which included 12 nationally-ranked opponents, the Lady Flames finished 19th of 23 women's squads at the Sept. 23 Virginia Invitational. Adelyn Fairley came in 34th overall to pace the team.
Katelyn Locker did not compete at the Virginia Invitational but is expected to return to action on Saturday. Running unattached, she came in 51st at last year's Panorama Farms XC 23 Invitational (Oct. 15, 2022) in a 5K time of 17:49.6.
Saturday will mark the first 6K of the season for the Fairley, Locker and the other Lady Flames racing in Charlottesville, following their 5K races at the Eye Opener (Sept. 1) and Virginia Invitational (Sept. 23).
For the first time, Panorama Farms will play host to the 2023 NCAA Division I Cross Country Championships, Nov. 18. It will mark this meet's first visit to Virginia since 1987.
Scouting the Competition
The Liberty men's squad figures to compete for its third straight top-five finish to begin the season. Ranked No. 10 in the Southeast Region, the Flames are tied with Washington State (West) and Weber State (Mountain) for the top regional ranking in the orange race. Arizona (No. 11 in West Region) and Utah Valley (No. 12 in Mountain Region) are other possible contenders.
The women's blue race features five nationally-ranked teams, including No. 6 BYU, No. 7 Virginia, No. 17 Oregon, No. 19 Arkansas and No. 24 Utah Valley.
Currently listed No. 10 in the Southeast Region, Liberty will get a chance to race against three opponents currently ahead of the Lady Flames in the regional rankings. Host Virginia is No. 2, followed by No. 6 Wake Forest and No. 9 Virginia Tech.
Looking Back
The Liberty men's cross country team followed up its victory at the season-opening Eye Opener (Sept. 1) by placing fourth of 43 squads in the gold race at the Sept. 30 Paul Short Run in Bethlehem, Pa. It marked the Flames' best-ever team finish at the Paul Short Run.
Nicholas Kiprotich came in a team-best fourth overall in the 8K, earning his second top-five placement of the season and his first Conference USA Men's Athlete of the Week honor. Teammate Tristian Merchant had previously been named the Flames' first-ever CUSA Men's Athlete of the Week on Sept. 5 after claiming the Eye Opener men's individual title.
Up Next
Men's and women's cross country will be the first Liberty teams ever to compete for Conference USA titles, Oct. 28 at Hobson Grove Park in Bowling Green, Ky. The 2023 Conference USA Cross Country Championships will begin with the men's 8K at 10 a.m. Eastern and will conclude with the women's 6K at 11 a.m. Eastern.
Players Mentioned
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