UCLA
George Kyte Classic
Cross Country Heads to Flagstaff for 2017 Opener
August 31, 2017 | Cross Country
LOS ANGELES โ The UCLA Cross Country team will open the 2017 season in Flagstaff, Ariz. for the annual George Kyte Classic on Saturday, Sept. 2. The competition is hosted by Northern Arizona University.
The 2017 Kyte Classic marks the 37th annual running of the event. The meet will take place at Flagstaff's Buffalo Park, with the men kicking off the action at 1:30pm with a 4.5 mile race. The women will compete at 2:30pm on a 2.6 mile course.
The Bruins enter the season under new leadership in Director of Track & Field and Cross Country Avery Anderson and assistant coaches Devin Elizondo and Jennifer DeRego. UCLA looks to improve upon a 2016 campaign that saw the men's and women's squads finish 15th and 28th at the NCAA Championships, respectively.
On the men's side, the Bruins return four of the seven who toed the line at nationals: sophomores Colin Burke and Garrett Reynolds and seniors Daniel De La Torre and Myles Smith. Junior transfer Robert Brandt further solidifies the men's veteran presence, as he was a top runner for California who competed in two NCAA Championship meets.
The women also have a strong group of postseason returners in seniors Emily Scharmann and Roni Yamaneย and sophomores Cassie Durgy, Jackie Garner, and Claire Markey. Also returning to provide veteran leadership are seniors Jessica Cushing-Murray and Emily Fieberling. Newcomers to watch include Erika Adler, the 2016 Orange County Register Girls Cross Country Athlete of the Year.
The 2017 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) recently ranked the UCLA men 18th nationally in its preseason poll. While the women begin the season unranked nationally, they are currently seventh in the USTFCCCA West Region rankings.
Headlining UCLA's competition this weekend will be host Northern Arizona, the defending NCAA men's cross country champions and the 2017 preseason No. 1 team. Other Division I teams competing are Arizona and Grand Canyon University.
Players Mentioned
