EAST RIDGE, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga men's and women's cross country teams won the UTC Home Meet titles Friday morning at the Camp Jordan Race Course.
 
"We ran really well today against some pretty good teams," Mocs head coach Andy Meyer said. "Both squads had a certain race plan, and they performed it to perfection.  The weather was absolutely perfect for running; it could not have been better.  Coach Gildea and Coach Sarah [Phillips] have done a great job all season having the kids prepared.
 
The Mocs women's team finished first with 17 points ahead of the Tennessee Running Club (74 points), Covenant College (77) and the University of the South (88). Bryan College, Maryville and Miles College rounded out the teams.
 
Lesley Green led the women's 6K race with a time of 20:07.5, more than one minute ahead of second place finisher, Chattanooga's Maddie Wheatcroft at 21:16.6.
 
"The ladies started the day in very fast fashion as they accelerated throughout the 6K course and really running the last 4K hard," Meyer said. "Lesley was her usual steadfast self, Maddie, Leah, Brooke, Lexie, Amanda and Andrea all ran really well today and freshmen, Audrey, Emma and Ellie had very good days."
 
The women placed seven runners in the top eight with the Tennessee Running Clubs top finisher placing fourth overall.
 
Leah Boyd was the Mocs third runner to finish with a time of 21:55.6 followed by Brooke Tyll (22:04.3) in her first 6-kilometer race. Lexi Foley rounded out UTC's top five scoring runners with a PR time of 22:10.8. Amanda Ferrante covered the distance in 22:19.7 and Andrea Ellis was next at 22:29.8.
 
In the men's race, the Mocs placed first, sweeping the Top Five shots for 15 points and seven of the top eight. Covenant's top finisher placed seventh overall and led the Scots to second with 66 points. The Tennessee running Club finished third with 70 points followed by Maryville (121), Bryan (123), and Miles College (180).
 
Aaron Isbell covered the 8-kilometer course in a time of 25:21 followed by Riley Hanson in second at personal best time of 25:27. Derek Mitchell edged out his previous best time at 25:38 and taking third.
 
Kaigen Mulkey was fourth overall with a time of 25:44, beating out his top time by more than 20 seconds. Eamonn O'Bryant rounded out the scoring runners with a time of 25:45, placing fifth overall. Jack Martin was sixth at 25:48 and freshman Ian Etheridge was eighth overall at 25:58.
 
"The guys were just as fast again accelerating throughout the course," Meyer said. "Several had PRs on a long course, which was great!  Aaron, Jack, Riley, Kaigen, Aemonn, Derek, Ian along with Lane, Andrew and Tristan were superb."
 
Chattanooga will now gear up for the Southern Conference Championships in two weeks in Greenville, S.C.
 
"These teams have been wonderful in their work dedication all season and we expect it to continue," Meyer said. "Now we begin the prep for our conference meet.  We have been trending in a positive fitness line for the last six weeks.  It is time to get some high-quality workouts and high-quality rest in and we will see what happens."
 
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