Akron to Host 53rd Annual Tommy Evans Invitational

Saturday, September 4

Norton, Ohio

University of Akron

53rd Annual Tommy Evans Invitational

Akron to Host 53rd Annual Tommy Evans Invitational

September 03 | Cross Country

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2021 TOMMY EVANS INVITATIONAL MEET INFORMATION (PDF) | LIVE RESULTS | MEET PREVIEW | COURSE PREVIEW VIDEO

AKRON, Ohio - The University of Akron women's cross country squad will open their 2021 campaign hosting the 53rd annual Tommy Evans Invitational this Saturday, Sept. 4, at the Silver Creek Metro Park (MAP) in Norton, Ohio (4325 S Medina Line Rd, Norton | OH 44203-5840).

The Tommy Evans Invitational will mark the sixth year for the Zips to race on the dedicated cross-country course at Silver Creek Metro Park. The men's four-mile race will open the meet at 11:30 a.m. followed by the women's 5K race at 12:15 p.m. Joining Akron in the field will be Buffalo (M/W), Kent State (M/W), Malone (M/W) and Walsh (M/W).

The Akron women's cross country team under the leadership of head coach Dennis Mitchell is set for the 2021 campaign led by senior Lindsey Scarton (Berea, Ohio) who is the Zips' top returning finisher from the league championship a year ago, covering the 6K course in a time 21:09.0 to finish fifth and garner first-team All-Mid-American Conference accolades.

She became the 13th Zip in program history to collect first-team All-MAC honors. She joined former teammates Haley Hess and Mackenzie Andrews, who collected first-team laurels a year ago.

Akron will also benefit from the return of junior Lizzy Gurko (Northfield, Ohio), senior Alyssa Thomas (Green, Ohio), sophomore Sophia Leto (Mt. Orab, Ohio) and senior Leah Recker (Findlay, Ohio), who crossed the line in 21:57.4, 22:21.0, 22:32.2 and 22:59.9.

Freshman Danielle Honaker (Ashland, Ohio), redshirt freshman Makenna Heimlich (Shelby, Ohio) and redshirt sophomore Kyra Keurentjes (Wehl, The Netherlands) culminated the performances of the Zips registering times of 22:59.5, 23:25.3, 23:50.1, respectively.

A year ago, Scarton led the efforts of the Zips' cross country squad at the 52nd annual Tommy Evans Invitational on Nov. 6, 2020, at the Silver Creek Metro Park.

Scarton and Gurko crossed the line first and second, respectively, for the Zips, registering times in the women's 6K of 22:12 and 22:27.

Thomas was next across the line for Akron finishing sixth in a time of 22:59, while Heimlich and Keurentjes rounded out the scoring efforts for the Zips placing 10th and 12th, respectively, recording times of 23:55 and 24:09.

Reecker placed 13th in the race for Akron with a time of 24:20.

The Zips were edged out in the team race by two points as Kent State won the dual meet.

The Zips continue their campaign traveling to Cedarville, Ohio, for All-Ohio Cross Country Championships on Sept. 18.