Troy University Athletics
Coach O Invitational Featured Saturday
10/16/2009 7:30:00 PM | Cross Country
TROY, Ala. - The Troy University Trojans will celebrate an anniversary this weekend, however, in doing so, will be hosting some of the best teams the state of Alabama has to offer in cross country.
The Trojans will be hosting the 10th annual Coach O Invitational Saturday morning beginning at 9:30 am, beginning at the Trojan Oaks Golf Course. The race, albeit a home meet, will be the last in long line of preparation races for the conference meet in two weeks.
“Coach O is our final race before the conference championships,” Troy distance coach Stephane Hetherington said. “It will be a great opportunity to execute a similar race plan to what we will do at conference but on a smaller, less taxing, scale since the races are only 5K and two miles.”
The race, usually run on homecoming weekend, will be run a week early this year and will test the runners mentally as the weather has taken a drastic turn over the last 24 hours. The temperatures will be the coldest the Trojans have run in this season, with the temperature hovering around 50 degrees when the gun sounds. According to the meteorologists in the area, it will feel like 45 degrees at race time, and the high will not climb higher than 59 degrees throughout the day.
That is a drastic turn for the runners who have raced in temperatures in the 70s and 80s all season, along with rain at the Crimson Classic earlier this month.
Hetherington has been impressed with his team's performances this season, but understands he is has to get improvement from them in order to finish strong in the conference championships.
“We continue to run strong and consistently at the top end as we have throughout the season,” Hetherington said. “I will be counting on our middle pack runners to step things Saturday, and in the next two weeks. From what I have seen in practice, I know that they have the ability to make significant improvements soon.”
Those runners will get a chance to prepare themselves for the race in two weeks, as they will be running against some of the best runners in the state and some of the best around the area on Saturday morning.
The Trojans will host the likes of the University of Alabama (men), Alabama A&M University, the University of South Alabama (women), Alabama State University, Albany State University, Florida A&M University, Huntingdon College, Samford University and Tuskegee University. The Crimson Tide men's team will enter the meet ranked third in the country this weekend, and it will be the second meet the Trojans will be able to measure themselves against some of the nation's best.
This weekend will mark the final home cross country race for Terrence Dixon, Drew Horner, Brett Lewis, Jeremy Moujoodi and Denzel Ramirez. On the women's side, Agata Cichoszewska and Anastasia Limo will running their last home race of their careers.
Hetherington is hoping his teams will be able to feed off their performances at the Gulf Coast Stampede a couple of weeks ago this Saturday.
“I am hoping that after such a close race at the Gulf Coast Stampede our women's team will realize how important every place is,” Hetherington said. “The entire team is fine-tuning their pre-race habits and preparation so that when conference comes rolling around there will be no surprises. A significant improvement from the Trojan Invitational six weeks ago is expected.”
The meet begins at 9:30 am, with the second race beginning immediately after the conclusion of the first race. The winners from each race will be recognized, as well as the top teams receiving awards. The awards will include Coach O champion watches, Coach O bags and t-shirts.
The Trojans will be hosting the 10th annual Coach O Invitational Saturday morning beginning at 9:30 am, beginning at the Trojan Oaks Golf Course. The race, albeit a home meet, will be the last in long line of preparation races for the conference meet in two weeks.
“Coach O is our final race before the conference championships,” Troy distance coach Stephane Hetherington said. “It will be a great opportunity to execute a similar race plan to what we will do at conference but on a smaller, less taxing, scale since the races are only 5K and two miles.”
The race, usually run on homecoming weekend, will be run a week early this year and will test the runners mentally as the weather has taken a drastic turn over the last 24 hours. The temperatures will be the coldest the Trojans have run in this season, with the temperature hovering around 50 degrees when the gun sounds. According to the meteorologists in the area, it will feel like 45 degrees at race time, and the high will not climb higher than 59 degrees throughout the day.
That is a drastic turn for the runners who have raced in temperatures in the 70s and 80s all season, along with rain at the Crimson Classic earlier this month.
Hetherington has been impressed with his team's performances this season, but understands he is has to get improvement from them in order to finish strong in the conference championships.
“We continue to run strong and consistently at the top end as we have throughout the season,” Hetherington said. “I will be counting on our middle pack runners to step things Saturday, and in the next two weeks. From what I have seen in practice, I know that they have the ability to make significant improvements soon.”
Those runners will get a chance to prepare themselves for the race in two weeks, as they will be running against some of the best runners in the state and some of the best around the area on Saturday morning.
The Trojans will host the likes of the University of Alabama (men), Alabama A&M University, the University of South Alabama (women), Alabama State University, Albany State University, Florida A&M University, Huntingdon College, Samford University and Tuskegee University. The Crimson Tide men's team will enter the meet ranked third in the country this weekend, and it will be the second meet the Trojans will be able to measure themselves against some of the nation's best.
This weekend will mark the final home cross country race for Terrence Dixon, Drew Horner, Brett Lewis, Jeremy Moujoodi and Denzel Ramirez. On the women's side, Agata Cichoszewska and Anastasia Limo will running their last home race of their careers.
Hetherington is hoping his teams will be able to feed off their performances at the Gulf Coast Stampede a couple of weeks ago this Saturday.
“I am hoping that after such a close race at the Gulf Coast Stampede our women's team will realize how important every place is,” Hetherington said. “The entire team is fine-tuning their pre-race habits and preparation so that when conference comes rolling around there will be no surprises. A significant improvement from the Trojan Invitational six weeks ago is expected.”
The meet begins at 9:30 am, with the second race beginning immediately after the conclusion of the first race. The winners from each race will be recognized, as well as the top teams receiving awards. The awards will include Coach O champion watches, Coach O bags and t-shirts.
Doc Anderson Invitational
Thursday, April 09
Marcus Woody - Troy University Sports Hall of Fame
Monday, April 28
Rick Stetson - Troy University Sports Hall of Fame
Monday, April 28
Doc Anderson Invitational
Tuesday, April 08