Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
7/2/2019 1:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, BRAA, Track & Field/Cross Country
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Middle Tennessee's cross country teams have their sights set on an extensive postseason run in 2019, a season that includes four high-profile meets to prepare them for Conference USA and NCAA competition.
The women will be looking to return to an NCAA Regional for the third consecutive season after placing ninth last year following a second-place finish at the C-USA Championships.
MT's men — who placed sixth in C-USA last year — are eyeing a return to the NCAA Championships for the first time since they finished 23rd in 2017.
For the fourth consecutive season, the Memphis Twilight XC Classic will kick the new season off for the Raider runners. The women are scheduled to race at 9:20 p.m., and the men will follow at 10 p.m. on August 31.
MT will then compete in the midstate on September 14, appearing in the Vanderbilt Invitational for the 10th consecutive fall. The Blue Raider men will be aiming to be back on the top spot after winning the event in 2017.
Another longtime staple of MT's cross country schedule is the Greater Louisville Classic, which will be held on October 5. The Blue Raiders will make their 14th consecutive run in the event this season, and the women will look to build on their impressive fifth place finish in last year's event.
To round out the regular season, Texas A&M will host the Blue Raiders in its Arturo Barrios Invitational on October 19, where the women notched a top-10 finish in last year's inaugural race.
The postseason schedule includes the Conference USA Championships in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on November 2, followed by the NCAA Regional in Tallahassee, Florida, on November 15. The cross country season ends with the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Indiana, on November 23.
"It's a good schedule, and the time in between each meet gives our athletes a chance to recover and keep training as they get closer to their goal, which are the championship meets at the end," said Coach Dean Hayes, who is entering his 55th season at Middle Tennessee.
Pamela Kosgei is expected to be a leader for the MT women after earning All-Region honors in last year's cross country season. Kigen Chemadi — reigning C-USA Male Track Athlete of the Year — will be expected to pace the Blue Raider men.
"Both Kigen [Chemadi] and Jacob [Choge] have made the top-40 — which means All-American in cross country — already, so having those two come back with us is a big plus," Hayes added. "We should have a real solid team, which will give us a chance not only at the conference title but at the NCAA meets as well.
"For the women, we've got three great runners coming back in Pam [Kosgei], Eusila [Chepkemei] and Joice [Jebor], and they should also have a shot at winning the conference."
Keep up with the Blue Raider runners on Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider XC/Track & Field - MTSU), Twitter (@MT_TrackField) and Instagram (@mt_trackfield) as they prepare for the 2019 season.
The women will be looking to return to an NCAA Regional for the third consecutive season after placing ninth last year following a second-place finish at the C-USA Championships.
MT's men — who placed sixth in C-USA last year — are eyeing a return to the NCAA Championships for the first time since they finished 23rd in 2017.
For the fourth consecutive season, the Memphis Twilight XC Classic will kick the new season off for the Raider runners. The women are scheduled to race at 9:20 p.m., and the men will follow at 10 p.m. on August 31.
MT will then compete in the midstate on September 14, appearing in the Vanderbilt Invitational for the 10th consecutive fall. The Blue Raider men will be aiming to be back on the top spot after winning the event in 2017.
Another longtime staple of MT's cross country schedule is the Greater Louisville Classic, which will be held on October 5. The Blue Raiders will make their 14th consecutive run in the event this season, and the women will look to build on their impressive fifth place finish in last year's event.
To round out the regular season, Texas A&M will host the Blue Raiders in its Arturo Barrios Invitational on October 19, where the women notched a top-10 finish in last year's inaugural race.
The postseason schedule includes the Conference USA Championships in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on November 2, followed by the NCAA Regional in Tallahassee, Florida, on November 15. The cross country season ends with the NCAA Championships in Terre Haute, Indiana, on November 23.
"It's a good schedule, and the time in between each meet gives our athletes a chance to recover and keep training as they get closer to their goal, which are the championship meets at the end," said Coach Dean Hayes, who is entering his 55th season at Middle Tennessee.
Pamela Kosgei is expected to be a leader for the MT women after earning All-Region honors in last year's cross country season. Kigen Chemadi — reigning C-USA Male Track Athlete of the Year — will be expected to pace the Blue Raider men.
"Both Kigen [Chemadi] and Jacob [Choge] have made the top-40 — which means All-American in cross country — already, so having those two come back with us is a big plus," Hayes added. "We should have a real solid team, which will give us a chance not only at the conference title but at the NCAA meets as well.
"For the women, we've got three great runners coming back in Pam [Kosgei], Eusila [Chepkemei] and Joice [Jebor], and they should also have a shot at winning the conference."
Keep up with the Blue Raider runners on Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider XC/Track & Field - MTSU), Twitter (@MT_TrackField) and Instagram (@mt_trackfield) as they prepare for the 2019 season.
Players Mentioned
XC/Distance
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
XC/Distance
/ Women's Cross Country and Track & FieldTuesday, May 14
