The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga men’s and women’s indoor track teams are back in action this weekend at the prestigious Rod McCravy Memorial Invitational hosted by the University of Kentucky at the Nutter Field House.
The meet is named in honor of a former track athlete who died in 1987 at the age of 19 while sleeping in his dorm room.
The Running Mocs will be competing this weekend alongside the No. 1 Clemson women’s team, Missouri as well as Appalachian State, Cincinnati, Eastern Kentucky, Florida A&M, Georgia Tech, Kentucky State, Louisville, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Missouri, Missouri State, Ohio State, Southern Illinois, UNC Ashville, Western Carolina, Western Kentucky, Marshall, University of Miami (Ohio) and host Kentucky.
Sophomore Amanda Sumner (Bristol, Conn.) along with transfer Rachel Greenwall (Bogart, Ga.) and freshman Helenka Kis (Columbia, Tenn.) will start the competition with the women’s 3,000 meter run at 10:15 a.m. Freshman Paul Stuart (Brentwood, Tenn.) and Matthew Marshall (Signal Mtn, Tenn.) will run in the men’s 3000m immediately following.
Senior Nathan Wanuch (Mississauga, Ontario) along with sophomore John Gilpin (Nashville, Tenn.) will run in the men’s Mile at 1 p.m. The women’s Mile is slated to run at 12:40 p.m. and UTC will represented by freshman Teghan Henderson (Pickering, Ontario).
Freshman Imeobong Isang (Atlanta, Ga.), a graduate of The McCallie School, will run the men’s hurdles. The semis are set to run at 11:48 a.m. with the finals to run at 1:40 p.m. The Mocs will enter freshman Geoff Nelson (Brentwood, Tenn.) in the 400m while junior Gabby Cader (Cleveland, Tenn.) and sophomore Ambria Reese (Memphis, Tenn.) will run in the same event for the Lady Mocs.
The 800 meter will follow the 800m Saturday afternoon with six heats in the women’s race with freshman Rebecca Greenwall (Bogart, Ga.), sophomore Jessica Philpott (Manchester, Tenn.) and freshman Kiaana Howard (Nashville, Tenn.) running the event. Sophomore Patrick O’Brien (Chattanooga) will run the men’s 800m along with freshmen Marquis Carter (Memphis, Tenn.) and Trevor Janssen (Jordan Station, Ontario).
The track events will wrap up with the men’s 1600 meter relay. UTC will run Nelson, Carter, Janssen and senior Blake Olsen (Pleasantview, Tenn.) in the race