Henderson Claims 10K Title at SoCon Championships

Thursday, May 12

Cullowhee, N.C.

All Day

Chattanooga

Southern Conference - Day One

Heat Sheets Events Schedule

5/12/2016 10:08:00 PM | Cross Country & Track & Field

Teghan Henderson won her second 10,000 meter Southern Conference title

By: Anne Wehunt

CULLOWHEE, N.C. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's track team had a strong start to the Southern Conference outdoor championships Thursday with an individual title and several finals qualifiers. The Mocs are, fifth in the team standings, just three points behind The Citadel in fourth.

Junior Teghan Henderson (Pickering, Ontario) outpaced the pack and claimed a second SoCon title in the 10,000 meter run. She distanced herself from the pack with four laps to go and finished with a time of 37:04.05

"It was unbelievably hot this morning," Chattanooga head coach Bill Gautier said. "I told her to run relaxed and conservative. She was clearly the best runner in the race. It was just a matter of when she went.

"She had a big surge and lapped some of the other runners. It was good for her. We really needed that to start the day."

Senior Keeley Stewart (Winchester, Tenn.) and junior Anna Kate Chance (Columbia, Tenn.) both scored for the Mocs in the distance race. Stewart finished seventh with a time of 39:54.56 with Chance right behind in eighth at 40:52.49.

In the only other final of the day for the Mocs was freshman Haley Morris (Knoxville, Tenn.) in the 3000 meter Steeplechase. She scored for Chattanooga with a seventh place finish and a PR time of 11:48.87. She earned a spot on the all-freshman team for her performance.

"She turned out to be one of our strongest freshman," Gautier said. "She was hurt her last year of high school and came in and had a great year."

Senior Kiaana Howard (Nashville, Tenn.) ran a personal record 57.88 in the 400 meter trials, finishing second in her heat. She earned an automatic qualification to the Friday finals.

"Kiaana is a senior and does what needs to be done when it counts," Gautier said. "She's a competitor. She ran a PR and qualified for the finals for a second straight year."

In the 800 meter run, sophomore Maddison Melchionna (Afton, Tenn.) led the pack with an automatic qualifying time of 2:11.46. Junior Hannah Chamblin (Memphis, Tenn.) also earned an automatic qualifying spot in the finals placing second in her heat and third overall in the prelims with a time of 2:15.81.

"We were trying to get an NCAA qualifying time for Maddison today," Gautier said. "She went out so hard for the first 600 meters, but the rain delay hurt. She was sick after the race.

"Hannah had a good race and it's nice to have both in the finals tomorrow."

Freshman Madison Watson (Chattanooga, Tenn.) placed 11^th in her first outdoor championships with a time of 2:30.24.

In the 1500 meter run, junior Jessica York (Normandy, Tenn.) earned a spot in the finals with a ninth place finish. She covered the distance in a time of 4:53.42.

"We're really pleased with today's results," Gautier said. "It was a strong day for us. Everyone who was supposed to do well did. Hopefully tomorrow will be even better."

An unexpected surprise for the Mocs was running into actors Woody Harrelson and Sam Waterston who are filming a movie nearby.

Friday's track and field events will kick off at 1:00 p.m. Results will be available at GoMocs.com following the championships.

Women's results – Day 1
1. Western Carolina – 72.5 points
2. Samford – 59.5
3. ETSU – 33
4. The Citadel – 18
5. Chattanooga – 15
T6. VMI – 14
T6. Furman – 14
8. Wofford – 5
9. UNCG – 3
10. Mercer – 0

Women's All-Conference – Day 1
Women's 10,000m – Day 1
Teghan Henderson, Chattanooga

Women's All-Freshman – Day 1
Women's 3,000-meter steeplechase
Haley Morris, Chattanooga

10,000m final
1	Teghan Henderson (all-conference)	37:04.05	10 pts
7	Keeley Stewart	39:54.56	2 pts
8	Anna Kate Chance	40:52.49	1 pt

1500m prelims
9	Jessica York	4:53.52	Q

400m Dash prelims
5	Kiaana Howard	57.88 PR	Q

800m prelims
1	Maddison Melchionna	2:11.46	Q
3	Hannah Chamblin	2:15.81	Q
11	Madison Watson	2:30.24

3000m Steeplechase final
7	Haley Morris (all-freshman team)	11:48.87 PR	2