Senior Lesley Boyd set a new Chattanooga outdoor track and field record Friday in the 5000 meter run at the Lee University Fast Break Invitational in Cleveland, Tenn.
The Dayton, Tenn., native bested her previous best time by more than 37 seconds and topped the program’s top time held since 2014 by Teghan Henderson [16:13.03], by just over three seconds. She placed second overall with a time of 16:09.46, edged out by Georgia Tech’s Kate Jortberg.
Joining her in the Top 10 was junior Maddie Wheatcroft placing seventh overall with a personal best time of 16:35.47, her first sub-17:00 time. She beat out her previous best time by more than 37 seconds.
“The crew at Lee know how to put on a meet!” Mocs assistant coach Patrick Gildea said. “The Mocs brought a distance centric group to Cleveland today and left with a bevy of personal bests and a new school record.”
Also setting a PR in the 5000 meter run was junior Leah Boyd who placed 17th overall with a PR time of 17:14.52. Andrea Ellis and Emma Thweatt also set PRs in the 5000 meter run.
Lexi Foley led a crew of personal records in the 1500 meter run. She finished third in her heat with a time of 4:51.80, just missing her top time by just over a second. Anna Roberson, Michaela Dabney, Taylor Crawford, Olivia Steele and EV McGowan all set top marks in the race.
“This group had been performing well in training and to see it come together in their efforts today really shows that each has whit it takes to compete with anyone, at any time, on any starting line,” Gildea said. “If there was any doubt prior they all proved with the right midset and approach that they are exactly where they want to be.”
Several of the men’s cross country team competed unattached. Jack Martin placed fourth in the 10,000 meter run, beating out his previous top time dropping below 30 minutes at 29:54.88. Aaron Isbell and Eamonn O’Bryant competed in their first 10,000 meter run. Isbell was ninth overall with a time of 30:12.44 and O’Bryant posted a time of 32:13.74.
In the men’s 5000 meter Riley Hanson was second in his heat, taking 23 seconds off his previous best with a time at 15:01.99. Derek Mitchell topped the personal best he set last month at Lee with a time of 15:20.99.
The Mocs close out the regular season next weekend at the Georgia Tech Invitational in preparation for the upcoming Southern Conference outdoor championships in Birmingham, Ala.
CHATTANOOGA RESULTS
Women’s 1500 meter
|
29
|
Lexi Foley
|
4:51.80
|
|
46
|
Anna Robertson
|
5:03.96 – PR
|
|
47
|
Michaela Dabney
|
5:04.38 – PR
|
|
54
|
Taylor Crawford
|
5:11.56 – PR
|
|
55
|
Olivia Steele
|
5:11.59 – PR
|
|
56
|
EV McGowan
|
5:12.07 – PR
|
Women’s 5000 meter
|
2
|
Lesley Green
|
16:09.46 – Lee Record – PR
|
|
7
|
Maddie Wheatcroft
|
16:35.74 – PR
|
|
17
|
Leah Boyd
|
17:14.52 – PR
|
|
23
|
Andrea Ellis
|
17:46.43 – PR
|
|
38
|
Audrey Wade
|
18:25.14
|
|
39
|
Emma Thweatt
|
18:26.23 – PR
|
|
42
|
Brooke Tyll
|
18:37.62
|
|
49
|
Ellie von Herrmann
|
19:06.74
|
Men’s 5000 meter
|
36
|
Riley Hanson
|
15:01.99
|
|
51
|
Derek Mitchell
|
15:20.99
|
|
85
|
Tristan Gould
|
16:26.78
|
Men’s 10,000 meter
|
4
|
Jack Martin
|
29:54.88
|
|
9
|
Aaron Isbell
|
30:12.43
|
|
35
|
Eamonn O’Bryant
|
32:13.74
|