SPARTANBURG, S.C. --- University of Tennessee at Chattaooga redshirt freshman Teghan Henderson (Pickering, Ontario) set a Southern Conference record in the women's 10.000 meter Saturday morning on Day One of the league championships at the Spatanburg (SC) High School Viking Athletic Complex.
Henderson finished the race in a time of 34:35.06, besting the league mark of 35:06 set in 2007 by former UTC runner Lanni Marchant (London, Ontario).
Marchant just finished 51st overall in the Boston Marathon.
"It took a mile, but Teghan caught up to the girl who won last year," UTC Head Coach Bille Gautier said "It was extremely hot and we wanted her to run as close to 34:30 as possible. She's becoming a more confident runner and that's great for us."
Seniors Mark Cole (McKenzie, Tenn.) and Harry Smithers (Melbourne, Australia) finished second and third respectively in the men's distance race. Cole ran the event in a time of 30:59.37 and Smithers was just four seconds back at 31:03.97. Sophomore Paul Stuart (Brentwood, Tenn.) placed sixth for the Mocs to give UTC 17 points in the race.
"The guys could not have done any better," Gautier said. "Mark has had a great career and is the epitomy of everything you want in a student-athlete. Every race this year has been the best of his career.
"Harry tried to win it. It was back and forth for a while. Paul did a great job and I'm just so proud of all of them."
Nathan Wanuch was the Mocs fourth all-conference performer placing third in the mens 3000 meter steeplechase with a time of 9:16.81. John Gilpin was eighth in the event with a time of 9:41.65.
"Nathan could have gotten second," Gautier said. "What a way to go out. The older guys all did what they needed to do."
In the men's 1500 meter Trevor Janssen finished second in his heat in a time of 4:00.96 to automatically qualify for the finals on Sunday. Senior Lucas Cotter, who missed most of the season due to injury, qualified for the finals with a time of 4:02.45.
Iman Isang earned a spot in the men's 110m Hurdles final on Sunday placing third in the prelims with a time of 15.17.
Jessica York came in with the top qualifying time in the 1500 meter with a time of 4:35.90.
"Jessica PR'd by like eight seconds, give or take," Gautier said of the freshman. I hope we didn't mess her up by having her run the 800m today as well. We'll see how she feels tomorrow."
The Southern Conference Championships will conclude Sunday. The Mocs will have runners in the 5000 meter, a pair of relays as well as the finals of the men's and women's 1500m and 110m Hurdles.
The men are currently fourth and the women are tied for seventh.
CHATTANOOGA RESULTS
WOMEN - 10,000M
PL Name F/P Time Pts
1 Teghan Henderson Final *34:35.06 10
WOMEN - 1500M
1 Jessica York P 4:35.90 Q
13 Maddison Melchionna P 4:47.29
20 Katie Ray P 5:03.27
21 Helenka Kis P 5:06.55
24 Anna Kate Chance P 5:09.04
WOMEN - 400M
16 Jasmine Snell P 59.84
WOMEN - 800M
14 Maddison Melcionna P 2:16.31
17 Kiaana Howard P 2:18.81
19 Jessica York P 2:23.33
20 Madalyn Rogers P 2:24.81
21 Katie Ray P 2:27.40
24 Helenka Kis P 2:29.84
WOMEN - 400M HURDLES
10 Gabby Cader P 1:05.65
WOMEN - 3000M STEEPLECHASE
12 Rebecca Greenwall F 12:21.56
13 Madalyn Garland F 12:37.95
MEN - 10,000M
2 Mark Cole F 30:59.37 8
3 Harry Smithers F 31:03.97 6
6 Paul Stuart F 31:27.89 3
MEN - 1500M
4 Trevor Janssen P 4:00.96 Q
10 Lucas Cotter P 4:02.45 q
13 Matthew Marshall P 4:07.60
19 Patrick O'Brien P 4:18.49
MEN - 400M
11 Geoff Nelson P 50.08
18 Tosin Ayutonde P 52.90
MEN - 110M HURDLES
3 Iman Isang P 15.17 Q
MEN - 800M
10 Marquis Carter P 1:56.17
17 DeQuantez Sandifer P 1:59.49
19 Trevor Janssen P 2:01.51
20 Austin Ethridge P 2:02.74
23 Matthew Marshall P 2:05.68
MEN - 3000M STEEPLECHASE
3 Nathan Wanuch F 9:16.81 6
8 John Gilpin F 9:41.65 1
* Southern Conference record