University of Tennessee at Chattanooga distance runners Lucas Cotter (Collierville, Tenn.) and Teghan Henderson (Pickering, Ontario) led the Running Mocs to top place finishes on a cool, breezy, overcast Saturday afternoon at the Moccasin Bend Race Course.
Henderson bested her time from the season-opener PowerAde Invitational by 17 seconds with a time of 10:41.10 over the two mile course. The next three runners crossed the line in a group led by Middle Tennessee’s Lucy Kapkiai with a time of 10:56.28. She was followed by Austin Peay’s Xiamar Richards in third at 10:57.11 with Chattanooga Rebecca Greenwall (Bogart, Ga.) fourth with a time of 10:59.17.
Keeley Stewart (Winchester, Tenn.) was the third UTC runner across the line placing 10th overall with a time of 11:37.15 and Amanda Cotter was right behind finishing her first race this year with a time of 11:37.11. The Lady Mocs’ final scoring runner, freshman Jessica York (Normandy, Tenn.), finished 15th out of 71 runners with a time of 11:50.54.
Chattanooga took first in the race with 41 points just edging Middle Tennessee who was second with 45 points. Austin Peay finished third with 60 points and Mercer placed fourth with 82 points.
Cotter ran with the pack through the first half of the race before getting out front to claim the title in his final home cross country race. He finished the 5-kilometer run with a time of 14:56.36 with Middle Tennessee sweeping the next three spots. Shadrack Matelong of MTSU was second with a time of 15:01.63 followed by teammates Eliud Rutto (15:08.37) and Silas Taiget (15:10.94). Bryan College took the next two spots with Chattanooga’s Paul Stuart (Brentwood, Tenn.) finished seventh overall with a time of 15:12.93.
Senior Mark Cole (McKenzie, Tenn.) finished ninth with a time of 15:16.55 followed immediately by classmate John Gilpin (Nashville, Tenn.) with a time of 15:19.91. This was the final home cross country meet for both runners.
Trevor Janssen (Jordan Station, Ontario) finished 11th for UTC in the scoring with a time of 15:23.34 as the fifth UTC runner across the line.
The Mocs finished with 38 points while Middle Tennessee finished second with 48 points. Bryan College finished third in the scoring with 51 points and Mercer was fourth with 110 points.
The Running Mocs will now prepare for the Southern Conference Championships to be run in Birmingham, Ala., November 2.
Men’s Team Results
1 Chattanooga 38
2 Middle Tennessee 48
3 Bryan 51
4 Mercer 110
5 UT Martin 112
6 Austin Peay 142
7 Darton State 160
8 Tennessee State 237
Individual
Pl. Name School Time Pts
1 Lucas Cotter UTC 14:56.36 1
7 Paul Stuart UTC 15:12.93 7
9 Mark Cole UTC 15:16.55 9
10 John Gilpin UTC 15:19.91 10
12 Trevor Janssen UTC 15:23.34 11
25 Matthew Marshall UTC 16:07.92 23
41 Zack Darby UTC 16:42.09 36
Women’s Team Results
1 Chattanooga 41
2 Middle Tennessee 45
3 Austin Peay 60
4 Mercer 82
5 UT Martin 168
6 Lipscomb 177
7 Darton State 197
8 Tennessee State 215
Individual Results
1 Teghan Henderson UTC 10:41.10 1
4 Rebecca Greenwall UTC 10:59.17 4
10 Keeley Stewart UTC 11:37.15 10
11 Amanda Cotter UTC 11:38.11 11
15 Jessica York UTC 11:50.54 15
19 Anna Kate Chance UTC 11:58.29 19
24 Madalyn Garland UTC 12:05.82 23
38 Katie Ray UTC 12:36.65 --