ISBELL, WHEATCROFT LEAD MOCS AT CHATTANOOGA INVITATIONAL
 
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. --- Aaron Isbell and Maddie Wheatcroft led the Mocs Friday morning at Camp Jordan in the Chattanooga Mocs Invitational.
 
Wheatcroft led the women in a tie with Tennessee Tech when both teams' totals tallied to 28 points. The tie break went to the Golden Eagles who sixth runner finished ahead of Chattanooga's.
 
"Our freshman duo of Maddie [Wheatcroft] and Leah [Boyd] were strong," Mocs head coach Andy Meyer said. "Emma ran very well. All of them ran some great times."
 
All of the Mocs runners posted personal bests over the flat 5-kilometer course. Wheatcroft, Leah Boyd and Emma Russum stayed at the front throughout the race with Russum in the lead for the start and Wheatcroft taking over near the end.
 
Wheatcroft finished third overall with a time of 17:36.0 in just her fourth collegiate race. Boyd, also in her freshman season, was fourth at 17:38.1 and Russum was fifth with a time of 17:40.7.
 
Faith Brown, competing in her final home race for the Mocs, was eighth overall breaking the 18-minute mark for the first time at 17:49.6. The final scoring runner across the line for UTC was freshman Andrea Ellis at 18:18.3. Ashtyn Hagood was the Mocs' sixth runner placing 16^th with a time of 18:38.3.
 
In the men's race, Aaron Isbell continued to lead the Mocs who finished second behind Tennessee Tech and ahead of the UTK Racing Club and Bryan College.
 
"We held the guys back for the first 3K," Meyer said. "We had them accelerate for the next 5K. They were working on their pacing for the upcoming conference meet. Everyone was at or slightly below their target times.
 
"Aaron [Isbell], for being sick earlier in the week, ran well. Jonathan [Boyd] was his usual steady self. Jasper, Ryan and Eamonn ran solid races."
 
Isbell covered the 8K distance in a time of 25:04.8 followed by senior Jonathan Boyd in his final home course race with a time of 25:30.1.
 
Jasper Wilson was ninth overall at 25:50.2 while Eamonn O'Bryant finished in a time of 24:57.6 in 11^th place. Senior Ryan Phillips was 12^th overall at 26:00.1 in his final home competition.
 
" It was great to see so many people out there cheering for us. Our administrators, parents and friends," Meyer said. "We are looking forward to the next two weeks of training in prep for the conference championship."
 
The Southern Conference Championships is Saturday, October 29 in Charleston, S.C.
 
Women's 5K Team Results
1      Tennessee Tech       28       (tie broken by sixth runner)
1      Chattanooga              28
 

Pl.	Name	Time	PR
3	Maddie Wheatcroft	17:36.0	18:18.5
4	Leah Boyd	17:38.1	18:27.3
5	Emma Russum	17:40.7	17:52.8
8	Faith Brown	17:49.6	18:51.6
12	Andrea Ellis	18:18.3	19:18.3
16	Ashtyn Hagood	18:38.3	19:02.8
17	Lexi Foley	18:48.4	19:49.9
18	Michaela Dabney	18:48.7	19:57.8
20	Julianna McReynolds	19:24.6	20:12.2
22	Allie Potter	19:58.2	20:47.0
23	Sydney Cansler	20:50.7	24:23.5
25	Sarah Phillips	21:50.4	first

 
Men's 8K Team Results
1      Tennessee Tech       17
2      Chattanooga              43
3      Bryan College            99
 

Pl.	Name	Time	PR
4	Aaron Isbell	25:04.8	24:27.5
7	Jonathan Boyd	25:30.1	25:23.7
9	Jasper Wilson	25:50.2	25:43.6
11	Eamonn O'Bryant	25:57.6	25:34.4
12	Ryan Phillips	26:00.1	25:40.9
15	Caleb Jarrett	26:24.3	26:34.0
17	Kaigen Mulkey	26:33.7	26:31.1
20	Eric Mitchell	27:01.5	26:25.7

 
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