November 11, 2016

Golden Eagle women's cross country places 21st at NCAA South Regionals

The Tennessee Tech men and women’s cross country team headed down to Tallahassee, Fla., on Friday for the NCAA Division I South Regionals to test their training against some of the top schools in the area. The men claimed an 11th place finish, while the Golden Eagle women placed 21st respectively.

By Holly Weber, TTU Sports Information

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—The Tennessee Tech men and women's cross country team headed down to Tallahassee, Fla., on Friday for the NCAA Division I South Regionals to test their training against some of the top schools in the area. The men claimed an 11th place finish, while the Golden Eagle women placed 21st respectively.

Highlighting the day's festivities was a Gilbert Boit 11th place overall finish. Boit completed his 10K with time of 30:45.1, which was the highest finish of any other runner from an Ohio Valley Conference school on the men or women's side, which earned him a place on the All-Region team.

Sigei Bernard placed second for Tech and 63rd overall with a time of 32:22.1. Also finishing for the Golden Eagles were Brannon Cheplak who placed 67th overall with a time of 32:24.2; Daniel Williamson who came in 85th with a time of 32:46.2; and Paul Patterson who placed 116th overall with a time of 33:28.1.

As a team, Tech placed 11th overall (321 points overall) in a field of 21 teams. Top 10 school finishers were: 1) Mississippi, 46 points; 2) Middle Tennessee State, 61; 3) Georgia, 105; 4) Alabama, 122; 5) Florida State, 127; 6) Samford, 165; 7) Georgia Tech, 173; 8) Florida, 212; 9) North Florida, 235; and 10) Tennessee, 300.

The Tech men's 11th place finish was not only the highest team-finish by a Tennessee Tech squad in school history, but it was also the top team-finish amongst any of the OVC school's that competed today for the men or women at the NCAA South Regions.

"I'm very pleased with the overall performance today," head coach Wayne Angel remarked. "I thought both the men and the women represented Tennessee Tech with a lot of heart and pride. I was hoping the women would finish in the top 25, and they placed 21st. The men placed 11th and are one of the top ranked teams in the region now, which is very exciting as well."

The Golden Eagle women placed 21st (534 points) out of the 30 teams competing. Top 10 school finishers were: 1) Mississippi State, 66 points; 2) Mississippi, 67; 3) Vanderbilt, 138; 4) Alabama, 177; 5) Georgia, 195; 6) Florida, 205; 7) Florida State, 208; 8) Samford, 272; 9) Lipscomb, 279; and 10) Memphis, 288.

Micayla Rennick paced the Golden Eagles, finishing her 6K 42nd overall with a time of 21:20.7 (.3 seconds slower than her personal record). Sarah Brandt placed second for Tech and 113th overall with a time of 22:33.9. Also finishing for Tech were: Purity Murray who came in 117th overall with a time of 22:39.3; Jenna Storms who placed 121st overall with a time of 22:44.0; and Madison Stremler who came in 169th overall with a time of 23:28.1.

Boit came just shy of receiving an automatic qualifying position for the NCAA Championships; however, he could still potentially receive an at-large bid, which would be announced this Sunday evening.

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Gilbert Boit was named to the All-Region team