GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- Chattanooga's Lesley Boyd earned all-region honors Friday morning at the NCAA South Region Championships hosted by the University of Florida at the Mark Bostick Golf Course. The women finished 16^th and the men came on late to finish 17^th.
 
The women's 6-kilometer race got off to an early start at 8:30 a.m. All seven women posted personal best times in the event led by Boyd. She ran with the lead pack at the start of the race and steadily climbed throughout, moving up 11 spots to her final 22^nd place finish. She ran a personal best time of 19:13.4 beating out her previous best time by more than two-and-a-half minutes.
 
Emma Russum concluded her Chattanooga career finished 83^rd overall, posting a time of 20:42.5. Sophomore Maddie Wheatcroft was the third UTC runner across the finish line placing 96^th with a time of 20:51.3. Transfer Kathryn Vradenburgh beat out her previous best time with Dalton State placing 99^th overall at 20:56.0.
 
Leah Boyd wrapped up the scoring for Chattanooga with a time of 21:22.9 followed by Andrea Ellis at 21:25.4 and freshman Lola Baker at 22:14.2.
 
The women ran a steady race sitting 18^th after the first 1000 meters. After moving up to 17^th through much of the race. In the final 1500 meters, Russum moved from 94 to 83, Wheatcroft climbed 10 spots, Vradenburgh moved up 12 and Leah Boyd outpaced 15 runners to move the Mocs up another spot to 16^th overall.
 
In the men's race, the Mocs had two PRs and two freshmen posting their first time at the 10K distance that included UTC's top finisher Jack Martin.
 
Martin started in the middle of the pack where he hung out for the first 4500 meters of the 10K race. As the race progressed so did he. In the middle of the race, Martin climbed from 90 at the 4500 meter mark and was 69^th at 5500 meters. He continued moving through the runners until he got as high as 50^th with 1200 meters to go. He placed 58^th overall with a time of 30:45.3.
 
Aaron Isbell was the second Chattanooga runner across the line with a time of 32:08.0, just off his previous best mark at the longer distance. Freshman Tristan Gould was the third Mocs runner at 32:42.5 in his first NCAA Region race.
 
Erik Martinez posted a personal best time of 32:51.9 placing 122^nd overall. He continued his attack through the group, moving up 35 spots from the start. Kaigen Mulkey was the final scoring runner for Chattanooga placing 125^th overall with a PR time of 32:55.6. Jasper Wilson finished with a time of 33:56.4 and Eamonn O'Bryant wrapped it up for the Mocs with at 35:19.5.
 
The men were 21^st at the first 1000 meters and climbed to 17^th by the end with runners climbing up the ranks throughout the race.
 
FROM HEAD COACH ANDY MEYER
"The ladies ran very well today. Best regional finish in several years (2018). The race was very fast from the gun. The women stayed with their race plan and held focus. At each time check the team improved placing throughout the race. Individually we had PRs across the board. Lesley [Boyd] ran great staying on the back of the lead pack and hanging tough throughout the hills. Emma [Russum] had her best race of the year. Kathryn [Vradenburgh] and Maddie [Wheatcroft] ran hard. Leah [Boyd] and Andrea [Ellis] were steady. As a team the girls were nine spots better than last year. This is a great way to end the season. I could not be happier with the effort they executed the season with and the attitude they brought daily to practice."
 
"The guys ran very well also. Jack [Martin] ran a great race staying consistent with his pacing. Aaron [Isbell], while not his best race, ran decent. Erik [Martinez] Tristan [Gould] and Kaigen [Mulkey] all had their best races of the year. Our guys improved three spots over last year and were able to beat Mercer who finished third in the conference. The guys had a very good season as well improving each and every race. I also am impressed by the way the guys stuck to the season and did not give up."
 
FOLLOW CHATTANOOGA CROSS COUNTRY
For the latest news and information on Chattanooga Mocs Cross Country and Track and Field, visit the official website of Mocs Athletics at GoMocs.com. Fans can also follow the Mocs on social media at /UTCTrackAndCrosCountry (Facebook), @GoMocsXCTF (Twitter), @gomocstrackxc (Instagram).