Carson-Newman's Cross Country Races for Gold at the Golden Eagle Invitational
Carson-Newman's cross country squad will head to Cookeville, Tenn., Friday afternoon for their second meet of the year at the Golden Eagle Cross Country Invitational.
JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. - Carson-Newman's cross country squad will head to Cookeville, Tenn., Friday afternoon for their second meet of the year at the Golden Eagle Cross Country Invitational.
"I like this course quite a bit for us," coach Mike Spooner said. "It looks to be a faster course than the one we just did. It's an all-natural grass course, so I think that'll be easier as well. The course is a little bit more open, it's a good rhythm course, so I think that will allow us to figure out our team strategies going forward with the season."
Despite strong debuts from Grace Lathrop and Brent Borden, and continued dominance from Raymond Brugmans, the Carson-Newman's women's team finished fifth and the men's sixth at the Fleet Feet Invitational on Sept. 3.
"I'm excited to see how many of our athletes that weren't on our top-end bounce back and respond," coach Spooner said. "I think that this is a course that favors us a little bit better being a 6K instead of a 5K. I think we are a team that is built to handle that additional 1000 meters."
Borden made his debut for the Eagles, finishing ninth at the first meet of the season with a time of 26:53.8. Only nine seconds behind him was Brugmans with a time of 27:02.9, good enough for 14th place.
"With these more seasoned guys, I think they understand that when one of them does well, it's thanks to the others. One can't do it without the other," coach Spooner said.
Freshman Grace Lathrop burst onto the scene for the Eagles, finishing highest among all Carson-Newman women's runners with a time of 19:59.1.
"I think she'll take another step forward getting used to racing competition," coach Spooner said. "I am excited to see how some of the other girls bounce back. I think a lot of the girls have looked at what they need to do to step up."
This event will be the first time since Sept. 30, 2012, that the Eagles have been to a meet hosted by Tennessee Tech. Back then, the Eagles' men's and women's teams finished fourth, coached by Whitney Lee. Hannah Reese finished fourth overall in that race with a time of 20:26.0.
For more updates on the Eagles' cross country teams, follow @CN_Eagles on Twitter and check www.CNEagles.com.
