KNOXVILLE, Tenn. --- The Chattanooga men finish second at the Tennessee Cross Country Invitational in the season opener Friday morning at the Cherokee Farms Race Course in Knoxville. The women took third.
 
"The girls did really well for a freshman dominated bunch," Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said.
 
"Brooke [Tyll] who did not run this past spring ran a great race leading us in. She was just off the lead pack. Freshman bunch of Ellie vonHermann, EV McGowan, Emma Thweatt and Kaitlyn Fisher were close behind.
 
"We were pleasantly surprised by the competitive fight of all our new girls. We are very pleased with everyone and adding them to our upper classmen is boding well for a great season."
 
In the women's race, sophomore Brooke Tyll led a young squad finishing 13^th overall at 18:09.19. Freshman Elli von Herrmann was 19^th with a time of 19:28.95 in the three-mile race.
 
Freshman EV McGowan was the third Chattanooga runner across the line at 19:43.70 followed by fellow freshman Emma Thweatt at 19:44.28. Rookies Anna Robertson (19:58.44) and Kaitlyn Fisher (20:03.61) along with redshirt Kennedy Reynolds (20:05.59) finished together.
 
Tennessee took first in their home meet, sweeping the top seven spots, with 15 points. Cumberland was second (55) and UTC was third with 76 points.
 
"The guys again were led by our freshmen," Meyer said. "Derek Mitchell was our first man and looked great accelerating through the race. Senior Kaigen Mulkey and freshman Ian Etherigde were close behind as was Aaron Isbell. We packed it in well. The team looks impressive considering we did not run three of our top runners."
 
In the men's race, the Mocs took second with 57 points behind Tennessee whose runners swept the top race and finished eight out of the top nine with 15 points. Cumberland placed third with 69 points.
 
Freshmen Derek Mitchell and Ian Etheridge were the Mocs top two finishers. Mitchell covered the four-mile course in a time of 21:17.37 placing 10^th overall and Etheridge was just behind in 11^th at 21:23.46.
 
Senior Kaigen Mulkey was the third Chattanooga runner to finish with a time of 21:34.26 and Aaron Isbell was next at 21:40.29. Chattanooga's fifth scoring runner to finish was senior Eamonn O'Bryant with a time of 22:21.70 and freshman Andrew Moore next at 22:23.12.
 
"It was a very good start to the season," Meyer said. "We saw what we have and what we can be. It back to work and we will be back at full squad for our next meet."
 
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WOMEN'S RESULTS: 3-MILE

13	Brooke Tyll	18:09.19
19	Ellie von Herrmann	19:28.95
23	EV McGowan	19:43.70
24	Emma Thweatt	19:44.28
27	Anna Robertson	19:58.44
28	Kaitlyn Fisher	20:03.61
29	Kennedy Reynolds	20:05.59
31	Maya McCloskey	20:16.07
33	Aubrey Park	20:34.98
34	Michaela Dabney	20:59.02

 
MEN'S RESULTS: 4-MILE

10	Derek Mitchell	21:17.37
11	Ian Etheridge	21:23.46
13	Kaigen Mulkey	21:34.26
15	Aaron Isbell	21:40.29
22	Eamonn O'Bryant	22:21.70
23	Andrew Moore	22:23.12
26	Cash Coggins	22:58.21
27	Gavin Ollis	23:02.80
30	Lane Hollis	23:49.43