Middle Tennessee State University Athletics
Friday, October 16
Birmingham, AL
7:45 AM CT
Middle Tennessee
at
UAB Invitational
Cross Country set to start long-awaited 2020 season
10/14/2020 12:30:00 PM | Men's Cross Country and Track & Field, Women's Cross Country and Track & Field, Track & Field/Cross Country
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — The COVID-19 pandemic altered the 2020 cross country schedule, but Middle Tennessee is finally set to make its debut this season with the UAB Invitational on Friday morning.
"It will be nice to get a look at the course before the C-USA Championships," MT cross country coach Keith Vroman said. "This will be a little different season for the team, but they are ready to compete."
MT is coming off a strong 2019 season that saw both Blue Raider teams win the Conference USA Championship and compete in the NCAA South Regional. MT's men's team went on to compete in the NCAA Championships as well.
The Blue Raider men's team reached a FloTrack national ranking as high as No. 9 last season, while the women's team also received votes in the NCAA Division I National Coaches' Poll. Top men's runner Jacob Choge cracked the top 10 in the individual national rankings.
Choge is back in Murfreesboro to wrap up arguably the best cross country career in Middle Tennessee history. Already a three-time C-USA individual cross country champion, Choge will be looking to get off to a great start in the first and last race before the 2020 C-USA Championship.
"Choge is coming off a great indoor season, and it was a disappointment he didn't get to compete nationally after the C-USA Indoor Championship," Vroman added. "He took a long break and is just getting back into training. He's done a good job motivating his teammates this fall."
For the Blue Raider women, reigning C-USA cross country champion Eusila Chepkemei returns for her senior season. Like Choge, Chepkemei will also be using the UAB Invitational as a final tune-up before turning her attention to the C-USA Championship race at the end of the month.
"Competing for the conference championship is the focus for her," Vroman said of his top Lady Raider. "Eusila has been a lot of fun to work with. She motivates her teammates and pushes herself hard to be the best she can be."
Race Details
UAB Invitational
Veteran's Park (Hoover, Ala.)
Friday, October 16
Women's 6K: 7:45 a.m., 8:50 a.m. and 9:55 a.m.
Men's 8K: 8:15 a.m., 9:20 a.m. and 10:25 a.m.
Middle Tennessee teams will run in the 7:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. races.
Live Results
Spectators are not allowed at the UAB Invitational.
History at the Course
The last time the Blue Raiders competed at Veteran's Park was the 2010 NCAA South Regional. Three Blue Raider men raced as individuals at the meet, with Festus Chemaoi finishing 32nd out of 147 runners.
The Competition
On the women's side, the Blue Raiders will run at the same time as No. 1 Arkansas, No. 12 Florida State and No. 22 Ole Miss. Additionally, last year's NCAA South Regional opponents Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Florida and Vanderbilt will also be in the same race as MT. Other fellow 2019 NCAA South Regional competitors at the UAB Invitational include UAB, Southern Miss, South Alabama, Auburn, Florida Atlantic and Troy.
For the men's race, No. 22 Ole Miss, No. 29 Florida State and No. 30 Arkansas headline the 8:15 a.m. race along with the Blue Raiders, who finished No. 31 nationally a year ago. Four other programs competed against MT in the 2019 NCAA South Regional, including Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Florida and Vanderbilt. Other teams of interest at the UAB Invitational are Kentucky, Auburn, Clemson, Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Keep up with Blue Raider cross country this fall on Facebook (Blue Raider XC/Track & Field), Twitter (@MT_TrackField) and Instagram (@mt_trackfield).
"It will be nice to get a look at the course before the C-USA Championships," MT cross country coach Keith Vroman said. "This will be a little different season for the team, but they are ready to compete."
MT is coming off a strong 2019 season that saw both Blue Raider teams win the Conference USA Championship and compete in the NCAA South Regional. MT's men's team went on to compete in the NCAA Championships as well.
The Blue Raider men's team reached a FloTrack national ranking as high as No. 9 last season, while the women's team also received votes in the NCAA Division I National Coaches' Poll. Top men's runner Jacob Choge cracked the top 10 in the individual national rankings.
Choge is back in Murfreesboro to wrap up arguably the best cross country career in Middle Tennessee history. Already a three-time C-USA individual cross country champion, Choge will be looking to get off to a great start in the first and last race before the 2020 C-USA Championship.
"Choge is coming off a great indoor season, and it was a disappointment he didn't get to compete nationally after the C-USA Indoor Championship," Vroman added. "He took a long break and is just getting back into training. He's done a good job motivating his teammates this fall."
For the Blue Raider women, reigning C-USA cross country champion Eusila Chepkemei returns for her senior season. Like Choge, Chepkemei will also be using the UAB Invitational as a final tune-up before turning her attention to the C-USA Championship race at the end of the month.
"Competing for the conference championship is the focus for her," Vroman said of his top Lady Raider. "Eusila has been a lot of fun to work with. She motivates her teammates and pushes herself hard to be the best she can be."
Race Details
UAB Invitational
Veteran's Park (Hoover, Ala.)
Friday, October 16
Women's 6K: 7:45 a.m., 8:50 a.m. and 9:55 a.m.
Men's 8K: 8:15 a.m., 9:20 a.m. and 10:25 a.m.
Middle Tennessee teams will run in the 7:45 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. races.
Live Results
Spectators are not allowed at the UAB Invitational.
History at the Course
The last time the Blue Raiders competed at Veteran's Park was the 2010 NCAA South Regional. Three Blue Raider men raced as individuals at the meet, with Festus Chemaoi finishing 32nd out of 147 runners.
The Competition
On the women's side, the Blue Raiders will run at the same time as No. 1 Arkansas, No. 12 Florida State and No. 22 Ole Miss. Additionally, last year's NCAA South Regional opponents Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Florida and Vanderbilt will also be in the same race as MT. Other fellow 2019 NCAA South Regional competitors at the UAB Invitational include UAB, Southern Miss, South Alabama, Auburn, Florida Atlantic and Troy.
For the men's race, No. 22 Ole Miss, No. 29 Florida State and No. 30 Arkansas headline the 8:15 a.m. race along with the Blue Raiders, who finished No. 31 nationally a year ago. Four other programs competed against MT in the 2019 NCAA South Regional, including Georgia Tech, Tennessee, Florida and Vanderbilt. Other teams of interest at the UAB Invitational are Kentucky, Auburn, Clemson, Florida Atlantic and Western Kentucky.
Follow the Blue Raiders
Keep up with Blue Raider cross country this fall on Facebook (Blue Raider XC/Track & Field), Twitter (@MT_TrackField) and Instagram (@mt_trackfield).
Players Mentioned
/ Women's Cross Country and Track & Field
/ Men's Cross Country and Track & Field
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