CROSS COUNTRY HEADS TO SOCON CHAMPIONSHIPS FRIDAY MORNING
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's and women's cross country teams will head to Kernersville, N.C., for the 2014 Southern Conference Championships hosted by UNCG at the Ivey M. Redmon Sports Complex.
The women's 5K begins at 10:00 a.m. with the men's 8K to follow at 10:45 a.m.
The women, who finished fifth last season, are without 2013 SoCon Female Runner of the Year Teghan Henderson (Pickering, Ontario) but return seniors Keeley Stewart (Winchester, Tenn.) and Amanda Cotter (Bristol, Conn.), junior Rebecca Greenwall (Bogart, Ga.) and sophomore Jessica York (Normandy, Tenn.). Joining the lineup is freshman Emily Drouin (Verona, Ontario).
Stewart finished 20th last year followed by Cotter in 26th and Greenwall holding the 38th spot. This season, Greenwall has posted the Mocs top time in the 5K with an 18:15.60 at the Greater Louisville Classic with Cotter's time of 18:19.60 at the GLC ranking ninth in the league. York, Stewart and Drouin all posted season-top times at the Commadore Classic. York ranks 14th in the SoCon standings recording a time of 18:35.36 while Stewart is two spots back in the rankings (18:37.67) followed by Drouin's timeo f 18:39.05.
On the men's side, the Mocs graduated all-conference performers Lucas Cotter (Collierville, Tenn.) and Mark Cole (McKenzie, Tenn.) and have been without Harry Smithers (Melbourne, Australia) most of the season.
Senior John Gilpin (Nashville, Tenn.) has led the Mocs this season as the top finisher for UTC in each meet. He posted a season-best time of 25:48.64 at the Commodore Classic with transfer Austin Cassasa (Nashville, Tenn.) across the line second for the Mocs with a time of 26:32.68 in the 8K race.
Also on the course for UTC is junior Trevor Janssen (Jordan Station, Ontario) who posted a time of 26:04.48 at the Greater Louisville Classic. Junior Matthew Marshall (Signal Mountain, Tenn.) was the third UTC runner to finish the GLC with Patrick O'Brien (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and Marquis Carter (Memphis, Tenn.) adding to the Mocs lineup.
Furman swept the preseason honors, as it was tabbed as the favorite for both the men's and women's cross country teams. The Paladins will look to defend both titles after a sweep of the 2013 SoCon Championships. On the women's side, Furman returns Allie Buchalski and Grace Tinkey, who finished second and third, respectively, a year ago. Chattanooga's Teghan Henderson, who was twice named SoCon Runner of the Week this season, will be unable to defend the women's individual title as she will miss Saturday's race with an injury.
Also vying for the title will be ETSU's Katie Hirko, as she wraps up action in her first season in the league. Hirko was a two-time SoCon Runner of the Week selection this year and finished third at the A-Sun Championship last season to earn first-team All-Conference honors. The women's race will also feature two-time SoCon Runner of the Week selection Kami Orrender (Mercer), as well as SoCon Runner of the Week Sinead Haughey (Furman).
In the men's race, Furman will look to Tripp Hurt, two-time SoCon Runner of the Week in 2014 and first-team All-Conference selection in 2013, to pace its squad as the Paladins look to finish out the season on top and repeat as champions. Hurt is the highest returning finisher from the 2013 SoCon Championships, after a fourth-place finish a year ago. His teammate, Tanner Hinkle, will also challenge for the individual title. Hinkle was a SoCon Runner of the Week this season and finished seventh at the event last season.
The men's race will also feature SoCon Runners of the Week Michael Lantz (The Citadel), Matt Warriner (ETSU), William Ivey (Furman), Josh Gilpin (Chattanooga) and Travis Alfaro (Western Carolina).
On the team front, Chattanooga was picked second preseason voting on both the men's and women's side. Look for ETSU and Samford to challenge for the team title in both the men's and women's competitions as well.
Complete results will be available at GoMocs.com following the championships.
