Cross Country Heads to Chattanooga

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee's cross country teams participate in their second meet of the season Friday at the UTC PowerAde Invitational at the Moccasin Bend Race Course in Chattanooga, Tenn. Auburn, Alabama, Ole Miss, Georgia Tech, Tennessee State and Jacksonville State as well as Middle Tennessee and host Chattanooga will run in the event, which begins at 5:45 p.m. ET with a two-mile women's race and concludes with a 5K men's event at 6:15 p.m. Newcomer Festus Chemaoi led the Blue Raider men at last week's Belmont Opener in Nashville, Tenn., finishing second overall in 15:12.45 on the 5K course at Percy Warner Park. Chemaoi was the top collegian in the event. Sophomore William Songock and freshman Julius Kurui both finished in the Top 20 last week, as well, and the trio will be joined by freshman Isaac Biwott at this week's event. The Blue Raiders are still looking for a strong fifth runner, with sophomore Philip Benavides and freshman Adam Cunningham both candidates for that spot. "Festus is proving that he's very tough. The only guy that beat him at Belmont was a professional runner," head coach Dean Hayes said. "William and Julius were right together and both ran very well. Julius is just a freshman because he got here in the spring, so he's just getting used to cross country. "Benavides ran about 30 seconds faster than what he ran at Belmont last year. He and Adam will continue competing for that fifth spot." The Middle Tennessee women had three finishers in the Top 31 at the Belmont Opener, led by sophomore Zamzam Sangau, who placed 12th overall. Senior Marjorie Gombert and junior Ashley Comstock also had strong races last week. Freshman Marla Bailey will make her collegiate debut on Friday after missing the Belmont meet because of illness. "The women really ran very well at Belmont," Hayes said. "Zamzam was very tough. This is only her second year running cross country and she has taken up right where she left off last spring. "Marjorie ran a very good race. She has really improved over the summer. She worked out hard this summer and got herself in shape. I think she's going to have a really good year," he said. "Ashley ran much better at Belmont than she did even two years ago when she was a freshman and got fifth at the Sun Belt [Championships]. She's shown some improvement and has gotten some confidence back as well." Both the men's and women's teams run again next week at the 26th Annual Paul Turner Old Timers Classic at Kereiakes Park in Bowling Green, Ky. Middle Tennessee will run later in the year at Kereiakes Park at the Sun Belt Championships on October 27.

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