CULLOWHEE, N.C. --- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga distance runner Emily Poole finished fourth in the women's 10,000 meter run early Thursday morning at the Southern Conference Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Cullowhee, N.C.
 
"Overall I thought we had a good day today," Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said. "We qualified everybody we needed to qualify; that we thought had a chance to qualify for finals. We placed in the 10K and then also in the 3000 meter Steeplechase."
 
A nearly three hour weather delay forced competition into the evening where Haley Morris finished seventh for the Mocs in the 3000 meter Steeplechase and set a new personal record in the event.
 
Brianna Nelson ran a personal record to qualify for the 1500 meter final on Friday and in the 800 meter run, Abby Bateman's PR earned her a spot in the 800 meter final. Ashlynd Broling and Nicole Buehrle also ran personal bests in the 800 meter.
 
 
10,000 meter Run - Final
In the 10,000 meter run, Emily Poole battled the lead pack and finished fourth with a time of 38:32.17. Rebekah Wich was just out of scoring contention in 10^th with a time of 40:42.43.
 
The race started with the runners all in a group with no one willing to step out front early. About one-third of the way through the lead runners, led by Poole, made the separation.
 
"It was a very tactical race," Meyer said. "After about eight laps, Emily went to the front and went from running 98s (98 second laps) to 90s and stayed there.
 
"We take our hats off to both Furman girls and the Samford girl. They have a lot of foot speed and when it came time, they put the hammer down and finished strong. Emily did a great job. At one time in the race she was fifth. She rallied in the last lap and was able to get a girl and pass her to finish fourth."
 
Wich hung with the pack through nearly half the race, sitting seventh or eighth more than midway through.
 
"Rebekah didn't have one of her better days," Meyer said. "Sometimes when you have a race like that and you're a little off, it motivates you for tomorrow. She said she can't wait for the 5K tomorrow."
 
 
3000 meter Steeplechase – Final
Haley Morris made a move over the final two laps of the women's 3000 meter Steeplechase and overtook her Wofford opponent to move into seventh place and run a PR. She bested her previous time by nearly seven seconds at 11:33.66.
 
"Haley ran a really good race," Meyer said. "We started her a little slow the first two laps and then she slowly accelerated after that. She was gaining time on everybody with good form over the hurdles and getting in and out of the water jump real quick.
 
"Actually over the last two laps that allowed her to catch the girl in seventh. She finished well."
 
This wrapped up Morris' career at Chattanooga as she will graduate early.
 
"It's a great way to finish, at the conference and getting a PR by about six or seven seconds," Meyer said. "It's a great way to end her career. She shows a lot of heart and always races to her potential."
 
 
800 meter Run – Trials
Abby Bateman led a trio of Chattanooga runners who hit a personal best Thursday afternoon in Cullowhee and advanced to the 800 meter final with a third place finish in the first heat.
 
"Just like we told Bri [Nelson], she was going to have to PR to advance and she did," Meyer said. "We thought she was going to get second, but the Furman girl held her off."
 
Bateman, rounding the final turn, was in third and pushing for second, but was unable to overtake her opponent from Furman.
 
Nicole Buehrle turned in the second best time for Chattanooga with a PR 2:18.43 from the third heat and 15^th overall. Ashlynd Broling placed 18^th overall with a PR time of 2:21.27 in the second heat.
 
"Nicole and Ashlynd ran really well," Meyer said. "Nicole has had a foot problem and hasn't really been able to train for the last five weeks. To run as well as she did is a testament to her athleticism. Katie Coker and Taylor Sawyer ran really hard races. All the heats were fast and we knew they were going to have to stick their noses in there and hang on as long as they could and they did and turned in some very respectable times.
 
 
1500 meter Run – Trials
Brianna Nelson was the 12^th and final qualifier Thursday afternoon for the women's 1500 meter run. She clocked a time of 4:44.96, a personal record, in the second heat to earn a spot in the Friday final.
 
"Right before the race started, I told Bri to be prepared to run a PR to even qualify for the final," Meyer said. "She passed a couple of people on that last lap and that just got her into that 12^th and final qualifying spot."
 
Julia Henderson crossed the line in a time of 4:59.01, placing 16^th overall.
 
"We wanted Julia to just hang on as long as possible and she did exactly that," Meyer said. "She hung on, gutted it out and ran with a lot of heart. She put way too much energy into the very beginning just to hang on. She was happy with the race and we look forward to having her back next year and seeing what we can do to improve on that."
 
 
100m Dash - Trials
Rebekah Bryant was just shy of her personal best with a time of 13.61 in the women's 100 meter Dash Thursday afternoon.
 
 
Hammer Throw - Final
Taylor Grayson threw a 37:21 meters in her first. On her second she suffered an injury and was scratched from her third attempt.
 
Long Jump – Final
After a near three hour weather delay, Rebekah Hampton and Rebekah Bryant competed in the long jump. Hampton had her longest jump on her second attempt at 4.94 meters while Bryant's longest leap was on both her first and second attempts at 4.88 meters.
 
"We've got some excellent chances tomorrow in the 5K and the 800 and the 1500 to score some more points and get some people placing," Meyer said. "We're looking forward to the triple jump as they have a really good opportunity. The shot put is Taylor's strongest event. We're hoping for a good day as long as everyone performs to expectations."


Friday's schedule
1:10 p.m.    4x100m Relay
Bryant, Coker, Hampton, Bateman, Sawyer
 
1:30 p.m.    1500m Finals
Brianna Nelson

2:30 p.m.    Triple Jump
Rebekah Bryant
Rebekah Hampton
 
2:50 p.m.    800m Run Final
Abby Bateman

3:20 p.m.    Shot Put
Taylor Grayson

4:00 p.m.    5000m Run
Hannah Caldwell
Sophia Neglia
Emily Poole
Rebekah Wich
 
4:40 p.m.    4x400m Relay
Buehrle, Bateman, Henderson, Nelson
 
 
100m Dash - Trails

21.

Rebekah Bryant

13.88

 
800m Run – Trials

6.	Abby Bateman	2:13.91	q
15.	Nicole Buehrle	2:18.43
18.	Ashlynd Broling	2:21.27
21.	Katie Coker	2:27.77
25.	Taylor Sawyer	2:39.41

 
1500m Run - Trials

12.	Brianna Nelson	4:44.96	q
16.	Julia Henderson	4:59.02

 
10,000m - Final

4.	Emily Poole	38:32.17
10.	Rebekah Wich	40:42.43

 
3000m Steeplechase

7.

Haley Morris

11:33.66

 
Hammer Throw - Final

16.

Taylor Grayson

37.21m

122-01

 
Long Jump – Final

18.	Rebekah Hampton	4.94m	16:02.50
19.	Rebekah Bryant	4.88m	16:00.25