C-N to host Carson-Newman Challenge on Saturday at Panther Creek State Park
MORRISTOWN, Tenn. — The Carson-Newman Cross Country team will get a chance to build on its tremendous performance in their first meet of the year when they host the Carson-Newman Challenge at Panther Creek Park Saturday morning.
MORRISTOWN, Tenn. — The Carson-Newman Cross Country team
will get a chance to build on its tremendous performance in their
first meet of the year when they host the Carson-Newman Challenge
at Panther Creek Park Saturday morning.
"Any race event at Panther Creek Park is always very
competitive and challenging," C-N cross country coach Whitney
Lee said. "The course is one of the most difficult that we
race in a given year. We're so lucky to have PCP as our practice
venue. It prepares us for anywhere we go to compete."
Junior Lauren Henry (Greeneville, Tenn.) is ready to show her
skills to the home fans.
"This will be the first time that we will be able to compete
at our 'home course' that I know of," Henry said.
"It will be great to get some school support and race on our
own turf."
The Eagles/Lady Eagles had a great meet in the Eye Opener on Sept.
4 in Spartanburg, S.C. The Lady Eagles took 13th place, with seven
runners competing individually as well.
"The team this year is very young, but we had a strong
showing for our first meet of the season," Henry said
Personally, I did not race as well as I hoped to but I am working
through a previous injury, which hopefully won't slow me down this
Saturday."
Henry took 102nd place last week. Ashely Matthews (Sanford, N.C.)
and All-SAC Brooke Earehart (Dickson, Tenn.) were the top finishers
for the Lady Eagles, finising 42nd and 52nd respectively.
"We learned a bit about where we stand and what kind of
competition we will be up against this year," Henry said.
"This Saturday will be about taking that knowledge and
applying to race day. We have a lot of talent in our returners, and
our new runners are developing quickly."
The Eagle men were impressive as well, with Justin Browning
(Madisonville, Tenn.) finishing 125th.
Some of the top teams in collegiate cross county will be competing
at the event. The NAIA No. 13-ranked Milligan College women and the
NAIA NO. 25-ranked Bryan College men will be there.
South Atlantic Conference rival Tusculum College will compete, led
by defending SAC champion Simon Holzapfel.
Lincoln Memorial will field a team led by All-SAC runner Sofia
Lopez-Mimendi.
"It's been a couple of weeks since the Eye Opener and our
training cycle has been pretty tough these past few days, so I'll
be interested to see how we respond Saturday." Lee said.
"I think we've some advantage just in knowing our own course;
knowing some spots to really make a significant move. If we race
according to some strategy we've been working on, then I think we
can find ourselves as a top three team this weekend."
Scoring and timing will be provided by Brian Buckner of Slipstream
Timing and Meet Management.
