Cross Country Heads to SoCon Championships Saturday

Saturday, November 2

Johnson City, Tenn.

10:00 a.m.

Chattanooga

Southern Conference Championships

10/31/2019 8:38:00 AM | Cross Country & Track & Field

Live Results Course Map (men)Course Map (women)Championship Program SoCon Record Book

By: Anne Wehunt

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men's and women's cross country teams are headed up the road to Johnson City, Tenn., for the 2019 Southern Conference Championships on Saturday, Nov. 2.

"We will be racing a new course in Johnson City for the conference meet," Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said. "No one really knows what to expect from this course. Coach Watts at ETSU will put together a challenging and tough course, I'm sure."

The women's 5K race will begin with a 10:00 a.m. start at the Pine Oaks Golf Course.

"The women will be up against some very stiff competition Meyer said. "Samford has been much improved as has UNCG and of course ETSU is running on their home course. Throw in nationally ranked Furman and it will certainly be a very tough and hard-fought race.

Wofford's Hannah Steelman has the fastest 5K time this season among all SoCon runners at 16:48.30. Furman has three of the next four spots and Samford's Mary Grace Strozier is ranked third.

Chattanooga's Makenzie Jones posted a time of 17:40.10 at the Greater Louisville Classic and has the sixth-best time in the league at championship distance.

"The ladies have had to battle the injury bug, graduation and transfers losses," Meyer said. "In multiple races this year, we've had three freshmen in our top five scorers. We will have to lean on our all-conference performer from last year, Makenzie Jones."

Jones has been the Mocs top runner this season with freshman Lesley Green holding her spot as Chattanooga's #2 runner.

"Our freshman, especially Lesley Green, have been incredible this and will have to be solid. Juniors Sophia Neglia and Ashlynd Broling have been consistent and our seniors Hannah Caldwell, Julia Henderson and Abby Bateman, in their last conference race must provide the leadership and determination to help us compete at the highest level. There are too many well coached teams in our conference to count on anything as a sure thing. The ladies will have quite a task on Saturday."

The men have four solid runners led by sophomore Jonathan Boyd and junior Jake Etheridge. Senior Ryan Gebelein returned to the pitch this season after battling injury and classmate Nathan Watson has been a consistent runner for Chattanooga this season.

"Our guys will go into the meet at full strength for the first time this year," Meyer said. "We are picked to finish eighth, but I'm very confident that the guys will certainly surpass that prediction. They have steadily improved throughout the course of the season."

The men's 8K is slated for a 10:45 a.m. and will cover 8-kilometers. Furman's Ryan Adams has the top time this season at that distance, clocking a 23:36.80 at the Oregon XC Invitational at the end of September. The Paladins have four of the Top Eight times with Samford's Dillon Dean second, ETSU with the Nos. 4 and 5 and VMI's top runner has the No. 6 time.

"Both seniors Ryan and Nathan have had a few injuries this season, but have been healthy here of late," Meyer said. "We are hoping they along with Jake and of course Jonathan have great races. Freshman Connor Duncan and Ryan Phillips will have to battle hard to help out our first four runners if we are to do well."

Admission to the championships is free at the Pine Oaks Golf Course. Live results will be available online at GoMocs.com. This will be the first time the championships will be held in Johnson City.