Mocs Post PRs at Crimson Tide Invitational

Friday, April 6

Tuscaloosa, Ala.

All Day

Chattanooga

Crimson Tide Invitational

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4/7/2018 5:21:00 PM | Cross Country & Track & Field

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By: Anne Wehunt

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women's outdoor track and field team had to give way to Mother Nature at the Crimson Tide Invitational. Nearly all Friday night events were postponed or cancelled due to inclement weather at the Sam Bailey Track and Field Stadium.

"The kids ran very well in cold and blustery conditions," Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said. "With the disruption of our pre-race routine and unexpected race times, the kids all maintained mental focus and composure."

The Mocs were slated to run the 5K and 10,000 meter Friday night, but the weather forced the postponement of the shorter race and cancellation of the 10K altogether. Emily Poole and Rebekah Wich were to run the longer distance but were inserted into the 5000 meter instead.

Poole placed fifth and bested her personal record by 3.54 seconds, finishing in a time of 17:25.26. Freshman Sophia Neglia also topped her PR with a time of 18:05.53, improving by 2.14 seconds in just her second collegiate 5K.

Brianna Nelson, finishing 19^th set a PR with a time of 18:18.16, more than a second-and-a-half better than her previous top time. Hannah Caldwell (18:18.43) and Haley Morris (18:56.92) set marks for the 5K in their first collegiate 5000 meter outdoor race. Wich, moved from the 10K, finished in a time of 18:46.23 for the Mocs.

"It was by far the fastest, most competitive race so far this year," Meyer said.

Alabama's Kaitlin York took first in the race with a time of 17:02.99 with Mississippi State's Stephanie Peterson second at 17:15.50 and Erin McLaughlin of Clemson third with a time of 17:16.18.

Men's cross country runners Ryan Gebelein and Mark Britt set new 5K PR's as well. Gebelein was 14^th with a time of 15:24.18 and Britt was three spots back with a time of 15:30.89. Former Chattanooga runner Lucas Cotter was ninth overall with a time of 14:51.41.

David Little of Southern Miss took first in the men's race with a time of 14:35.21. Oklahoma's Eric Alldritt was second with a time of 14:39.89 followed by Julien Sanchez-Pinto third at 14:41.21.

"[Assistant Coach] Amanda [Cotter] and I were pleased with the way our kids mentally handled the schedule changes," Meyer said. "The adverse weather and then executed against tough competition. These young men and women are learning fast and we could not be happier with the progress they certainly exhibited this weekend."

The Mocs will travel to Cullowhee, N.C., next weekend for the Beynon Sports Catamount Classic hosted by Western Carolina. This will give the athletes an opportunity to compete at the host site for the Southern Conference Championships in May.

Women's 5K