Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Saturday, August 31
Memphis, TN
9:20 PM
Middle Tennessee
vs
Memphis Twilight XC Classic
Cross Country to begin 2019 slate at Memphis
8/30/2019 1:00:00 PM | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Track & Field/Cross Country
Twilight Classic to start at 9:20 p.m.
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The road to the 2019 NCAA Cross Country Championships begins Saturday night for Middle Tennessee's men's and women's cross country teams, with the Memphis Twilight XC Classic serving as the first regular season meet.
The Blue Raider men enter the first race of the new season as the No. 22-ranked team in the nation, according to FloTrack. MT's men — led by All-Americans Kigen Chemadi and Jacob Choge — were also picked to finish as the top team in Conference USA.
Before an 11th place finish in the Twilight Classic last year, four Blue Raiders finished in the top five — including Chemadi and Choge at finishing first and second, respectively — to win the event in 2017.
"Our focus is how we place at the end of the season, so this weekend will be about getting our feet wet," MT cross country Head Coach Keith Vroman said of his men's squad. "This race doesn't count for or against us in regards to the NCAA ranking, so we'll use this weekend to get warmed up for later in the year."
MT's women were picked by C-USA coaches to finish third in the league this fall. The Blue Raiders will be looking to improve on third place finishes in both 2017 and 2018 in the Twilight Classic when they take the course this weekend.
Redshirt senior Rachel Kigen along with juniors Eusila Chepkemei and Joice Jebor are expected to be the top three runners on the women's side for MT. Chepkemei placed 25th in last year's Twilight race, while Jebor finished 13th overall.
"The biggest thing now is to see where they're at to determine where we need to go," Vroman said of MT's women's team. "This weekend will go a long way in helping us figure out what we need to do to prepare for the championship season."
The women will run first on Saturday night, with a 5K race beginning at 9:20 p.m., followed by the men's four-mile race set for 10 p.m.
Alabama, Memphis and Ole Miss will bring both cross country teams to headline this weekend's race along with MT. Southern Miss and UAB will compete in the women's race.
The Crimson Tide men bring in a national ranking of No. 12, trailed closely behind by Ole Miss at No. 15. Ole Miss will be the only nationally ranked women's team in this weekend's field, coming in at No. 20. As for MT's C-USA competition in the women's race, Southern Miss was picked to finish fourth in the conference, followed by UAB at sixth.
Keep up with Blue Raider cross country this fall on Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider XC/Track & Field), Twitter (@MT_TrackField) and Instagram (@mt_trackfield).
The Blue Raider men enter the first race of the new season as the No. 22-ranked team in the nation, according to FloTrack. MT's men — led by All-Americans Kigen Chemadi and Jacob Choge — were also picked to finish as the top team in Conference USA.
Before an 11th place finish in the Twilight Classic last year, four Blue Raiders finished in the top five — including Chemadi and Choge at finishing first and second, respectively — to win the event in 2017.
"Our focus is how we place at the end of the season, so this weekend will be about getting our feet wet," MT cross country Head Coach Keith Vroman said of his men's squad. "This race doesn't count for or against us in regards to the NCAA ranking, so we'll use this weekend to get warmed up for later in the year."
MT's women were picked by C-USA coaches to finish third in the league this fall. The Blue Raiders will be looking to improve on third place finishes in both 2017 and 2018 in the Twilight Classic when they take the course this weekend.
Redshirt senior Rachel Kigen along with juniors Eusila Chepkemei and Joice Jebor are expected to be the top three runners on the women's side for MT. Chepkemei placed 25th in last year's Twilight race, while Jebor finished 13th overall.
"The biggest thing now is to see where they're at to determine where we need to go," Vroman said of MT's women's team. "This weekend will go a long way in helping us figure out what we need to do to prepare for the championship season."
The women will run first on Saturday night, with a 5K race beginning at 9:20 p.m., followed by the men's four-mile race set for 10 p.m.
Alabama, Memphis and Ole Miss will bring both cross country teams to headline this weekend's race along with MT. Southern Miss and UAB will compete in the women's race.
The Crimson Tide men bring in a national ranking of No. 12, trailed closely behind by Ole Miss at No. 15. Ole Miss will be the only nationally ranked women's team in this weekend's field, coming in at No. 20. As for MT's C-USA competition in the women's race, Southern Miss was picked to finish fourth in the conference, followed by UAB at sixth.
Keep up with Blue Raider cross country this fall on Facebook (Middle Tennessee Blue Raider XC/Track & Field), Twitter (@MT_TrackField) and Instagram (@mt_trackfield).
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
/ Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
/ Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
/ Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
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