Former coach and reigning NCAA Division 1 10,000-meter champ lead Volunteers in 5-mile men’s matchup; North Carolina State and New Mexico to clash with Alabama and host Notre Dame in women’s 5-kilometer race, with potential reunion of past Tennessee teammates Seymour and Thronson

By Erik Boal, DyeStat Editor

Normally, a September showdown involving the North Carolina State and New Mexico women’s cross country teams would be the most significant storyline entering the Joe Piane Invitational on Friday at University of Notre Dame’s Burke Golf Course.

But there are multiple interesting subplots to support the matchup involving two of the top three women’s programs in the country, including one involving a member of the top-ranked Wolfpack lineup.

The women’s blue 5-kilometer race at 10:30 a.m. EDT is expected to showcase the first matchup involving North Carolina State graduate student-athlete Sydney Seymour and former Tennessee teammate and Notre Dame graduate student-athlete Katie Thronson.

The Tennessee men’s team is also scheduled to participate in the men’s blue 5-mile race at 11:15 a.m. EDT, highlighting the return to Notre Dame for former coach Sean Carlson, along with reigning NCAA Division 1 10,000-meter champion Dylan Jacobs, a graduate student-athlete for the Volunteers.

Nate Kawalec, also a graduate student-athlete for Tennessee, will compete for the first time against his former teammates at North Carolina State.

Tennessee will have an opportunity to face a men’s blue field that includes ranked opponents in No. 14 Notre Dame, No. 22 Montana State, No. 24 Butler, No. 25 Alabama and No. 27 Michigan.

Michigan finished second last year by a 129-150 margin behind Furman, which is not attending this year’s event. Butler took third with 177 points, with Florida State (204) and Southern Utah (207) also scheduled to return.

Nickolas Scudder of Charlotte is the top returning athlete in the 5-mile field, taking third last season in 23:14.9, with Notre Dame’s Matthew Carmody finishing fourth in 23:22.6.

Victor Kiprop of Alabama earned eighth last year in 23:39.1 and Butler’s Barry Keane placed 10th in 23:41.7.

Zach Stewart, who was 26th in the blue 5-mile race in 24:05.3, is the top returning competitor for Michigan.

Duncan Hamilton, an All-American at Montana State, has already produced a pair of victories this season in Bozeman and will be racing for the first time at Joe Piane.

The top three teams and first three finishers from last year’s women’s blue 5-kilometer race are all scheduled to return.

Alabama, ranked No. 10 this fall, returns March 2021 national cross country champion Mercy Chelangat, who edged teammate Flomena Asekol by a 16:10.3 to 16:10.7 margin last season.

Kelsey Chmiel of defending Division 1 champion North Carolina State took third last year in 16:14.6, as the Wolfpack placed five athletes in the top 12 to triumph with 38 points.

North Carolina State swept the top three spots and placed six athletes in the top eight Sept. 16 at the adidas XC Challenge at WakeMed Soccer Complex in Cary, N.C.

Samantha Bush won the 5-kilometer race in 16:14.5, followed by Marlee Starliper (16:20.1) and Mariah Howlett (16:37.5) for the Wolfpack, with Chmiel and reigning Division 1 outdoor 5,000-meter champion Katelyn Tuohy both sitting out for North Carolina State.

New Mexico, ranked No. 3 this season, was runner-up at last year’s meet with 94 points and Alabama took third with 147 points.

Emma Heckel is the top returning athlete for the Lobos after placing 16th in 16:40.0 at last season’s event.

Notre Dame, which enters the competition ranked No. 8 nationally, finished 14th at last year’s meet.

Oregon State, ranked No. 27 and led by All-Americans Kaylee Mitchell and Grace Fetherstonhaugh, is also scheduled to compete, along with Florida State, Liberty, Penn State and Toledo.

Florida State finished seventh and Toledo took ninth in last year’s blue 5-kilometer race.

The six-race schedule also includes an open women’s 5-kilometer competition at 12 noon EDT, followed by an open men’s 5-mile section at 12:45 p.m. EDT.

The meet concludes with a gold women’s 5-kilometer race at 1:30 p.m. EDT and a gold men’s 5-mile competition at 2:15 p.m. EDT.