Cross Country Heads to Georgia Tech Invite Friday Morning

Friday, October 2

Atlanta, Ga.

M: 8:30 a.m. | W: 9:20 a.m.

Chattanooga

Georgia Tech XC Invite

a group of women in white tank tops and blue shorts are in a huddle with their arms around each other.

Photo by: Carol Hailey

10/1/2026 3:16:00 PM | Cross Country & Track & Field

Live Stats

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga men's and women's cross country teams return to action Friday at the Georgia Tech Cross Country Invitational at the Foxhall Sporting Club in Douglasville, Ga. Friday's races are scheduled for 8:30 a.m. (men) and 9:20 a.m. (women).

Meet Information

Event: Georgia Tech XC Invitational
Date: Friday, Oct. 2
Location: Douglasville, Ga. |
Men's Race: 8:30 a.m. ET
Women's Race: 9:20 a.m. ET

The Mocs are coming off a strong test at the Southern Showcase in Huntsville, Ala., where they faced some of the top competition in the NCAA South Region.

On the women's side, freshman Leila Hailey led Chattanooga with a 29th-place finish and a time of 17:31.1 over the 5K course. She has emerged as the Mocs top finisher through the opening meets of the season and will look to continue that momentum Friday. Teammates Aubrey Park, Ashley Torr, Bella King and Scarlett Nash rounded out Chattanooga's scoring five at the Southern Showcase.

For the men, Jack Martin paced the Mocs in his first race of the season, finishing with a time of 25:27.3 in the 8K. Derek Mitchell and Ian Etheridge were among the top scorers for the Mocs, helping Chattanooga compete against a field loaded with regional contenders.

Last year, the Georgia Tech Invite was really successful for the running Mocs. The men's team finished second, right behind host Yellow Jackets and ahead of Southern Conference rival Mercer. Jack Martin improved his personal best time in the 8k run (24:38.9) and finished sixth. Derek Mitchell also improved on his time finishing eighth overall with a time of 24:51.6.

Former women's runner Maddie Wheatcroft led the Mocs in the meet last season with a sixth place finish. On the squad this season with PB's are Emma Thweatt and Maya McCloskey.

Friday's meet is the first of back-to-back October competitions for Chattanooga. Following the Georgia Tech Invitational, the Mocs will travel to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for the Crimson Classic on Oct. 16 before turning their attention to the SoCon Championships on Oct. 31 in Mill Spring, N.C.

The Georgia Tech Invitational will provide another opportunity for the Mocs to measure themselves against quality regional competition as they continue building toward championship season.

Men's Competition List
Jayden Bowman
Cash Coggin
Ian Etheridge
Tristan Gould
Riley Hanson
Jack Martin
Derek Mitchell
Andrew Moore

Women's Competition List
Taylor Crawford
Leila Hailey
Bella King
Maya McCloskey
Scarlett Nash
Aubrey Park
Kennedy Reynolds
Anna Roberson
Olivia Steele
Emma Thweatt
Ashley Torr
Ellie von Herrmann

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