HUNTSVILLE, Ala. --- Aaron Isbell and Emma Russum got out front of the Mocs and moved up through the field throughout the race to lead Chattanooga at the UNA Showcase on a chilly Friday morning at the John Hunt Cross Country Park.
 
"We had a really good morning of racing," Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said. "The kids really seemed to carry over the success we had during the track season last year into this season. We are way ahead of where we were this time last year.
 
"This meet is very competitive and really fast for this early in the season. We gave the kids certain time we through they should be at through the race. They met or exceeded all the time standards. Some were three-plus minutes better this year than last year."
 
The men finished 19^th out of 37 teams and were ahead of fellow Southern Conference foe Samford who placed 22^nd. Chattanooga also outpaced Western Kentucky, Jacksonville State and Austin Peay.
 
Isbell finished 38^th overall in the men's 8-kilometer race, posting a personal record (PR) time of 24:27.49, improving his previous top time by more than two-and-a-half minutes. He started out 109^th of 365 runners in the first 1.6-kilometers. By the 4.6K mark, he moved up 62 spots and closing in on the top of the field.
 
Jonathan Boyd and Eamonn O'Bryant were next across the line with Boyd running the course in a time of 25:33.69. Boyd moved up more than 100 spots from the first timing location to the final. O'Bryant's time of 25:34.39 was a personal best for the sophomore by more than two minutes.
 
Ryan Phillips covered the distance in a time of 26:02.46 and was the fourth Chattanooga runner across the line while junior Jasper Wilson rounded out the scoring Mocs with a PR time of 26:22.46.
 
"All the guys did a great job of accelerating through the race," Meyer said. "Aaron Isbell had a huge break out race along with Eamonn O'Bryant. They struggled a little during the season, but you could see them putting things together during the track season and it has certainly carried over.
 
"Jonathan Boyd and Ryan Phillips were their usual steady selves and Jasper Wilson ran a solid race, almost a minute better.
 
"Eric Mitchell and Lane Hollis made great strides as well over last year. Newcomers Erik Martinez and Caleb Jarrett were about  a minute or so ahead of where our freshmen were last year, so that bodes well for the future."
 
Alabama took first in the meet with 74 points followed by Kentucky (94), Georgia Tech (109) and Lee University from Cleveland with 141 points. Memphis rounded out the Top Five with 188 points.
 
The Tide placed three runners in the Top Five with Victor Kiprop leading the race with a time of 23:18:30. South Alabama's Kirami Yego was second at 23:25.64 and Hillary Cheruiyot of Alabama was third overall at 23:30.04.
 
Russum led the women to a 15^th place finish out of 43 teams. Samford placed five spots ahead of UTC in 10^th while the Mocs outpaced Memphis (16), North Alabama (17), South Florida (21) and South Alabama (23).
 
The Kingsport, Tenn., sophomore placed 45^th overall improving her PR by more than 38 seconds to 17:52.75, outrunning Mississippi State's Madison Jones at the end.
 
Maddie Wheatcroft and Leah Boyd are making early strides for the Mocs as the next two UTC runners to finish. Wheatcroft ran the 5-kilometer course in a time of 18:18.49 while Boyd was not far behind with a time of 18:27.29.
 
Junior Faith Brown posted a PR in the crowded field, finishing with a time of 18:51.53 while Ashtyn Hagood rounded out the scoring field with a time of 19:11.32, just missing out on a PR.
 
"The women were not to be outdone," Meyer said. "They also accelerated through the race and continually improved with each mile. Our top three ladies were faster than the top three from last year.
 
"Emma Russum had a huge jump and freshmen Maddie Wheatcroft and Leah Boyd continue to make an immediate impact for us. Faith Brown had a breakthrough race as well," Meyer continued. ""Ashtyn Hagood ran steady for us and freshmen Andrea Ellis and Lexi Foley ran great races in a huge field."
 
"Coach [Ty] Griffin has done well having the ladies prepared for the first real test of the season. They had a standout day for where they are in  their training cycle."


Alabama made it a sweep, winning the women's race with 73 points, edging out SEC foe Kentucky by five points. Georgia Tech placed third (110) followed by Auburn (125) and Kennesaw State with 189 points.
 
Perri Bockrath of Kentucky took first with a time of 16:24.54 followed by Alabama's Hilda Olemomoi in second with a time of 16:30.02. The Wildcats' Tori Herman placed third overall at 16:33.65.
 
"We are certainly pleased with everyone's current fitness level," Meyer said. "Some of the kids are finding out they can and will be very, very good with continued hard work and experience. This race and their results today five us a glimpse of how we can beif we all stay healthy and continue progressing."
 
The Mocs return to action Saturday, October 1 at the prestigious Louisville Cross Country Classic.
 
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MEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (366)
38	Aaron Isbell	24:27.49
135	Jonathan Boyd	25:33.69
136	Eamonn O'Bryant	25:34.60
164	Ryan Phillips	26:02.46
181	Jasper Wilson	26:22.46
199	Erik Martinez	26:32.02
203	Eric Mitchell	26:35.02
220	Kaigen Mulkey	26:57.64
221	Caleb Jarrett	26:58.14
226	Lane Hollis	27:06.79

 

WOMEN'S INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (389)
45	Emma Russum	17:52.75
79	Maddie Wheatcroft	18:18.49
97	Leah Boyd	18:27.29
146	Faith Brown	18:51.53
183	Ashtyn Hagood	19:11.32
192	Andrea Ellis	19:18.30
237	Lexi Foley	19:49.82
278	Julianna McReynolds	20:30.61
293	Allie Potter	20:46.99