Troy University Athletics
Trojans Travel to Gulf Coast Stampede
10/2/2009 5:00:00 AM | Cross Country
TROY, Ala. - The Troy University cross country teams have been preparing for the Sun Belt Conference Championships all season, and will look to better prepare themselves this weekend as they take another step toward the season-ending race by heading to the Gulf Coast Stampede in Pensacola.
This weekend will be just the third meet of the season for the Trojans, and will be their first and only venture out of state until the conference meet in Monroe, Louisiana the first weekend in November.
“We are looking forward to competing at the Gulf Coast Stampede on Saturday,” head cross country coach Stephane Hetherington said. “We have six men and six women who have been chosen as representatives of the university to participate in the meet.”
The Trojans, unlike in meets past, will take just the amount of runner that can score for the individual team this weekend. On the men's side, the Trojans will send Terrence Dixon, Drew Horner, Enock Kirui, Jeremy Moujoodi, Nathan Rouse and Brett Lewis to the race. Of the six participants, Moujoodi has posted the best time on an 8K course, which they will face at the Gulf Coast Stampede, running a time of 26:19.60 at the Crimson Classic.
On the women's side, the Trojans will send Kelly Harrington, Anastasia Limo, Sylvia Chirchir, Allison Paulson, Morgan Paulson and Chalyce Stancil. On a 5K course this season, Chirchir posted the best time of 18:38.30 at the Crimson Classic.
Although the Trojans have not been in a meet since September 18, Hetherington expects his teams to be in competition early. Though the team may have not been competing, they were put through workouts to simulate the race atmosphere.
“I am expecting the men and women to challenge for the win right from the start,” he said. “Our goal is simply to be team champions on both sides. Last Friday's workout was designed to be quite difficult. It was used to assess whether we are on pace in terms of fitness development, and we are.”
The races will take place at the Escambia County Equestrian Center in Pensacola, Florida, beginning at 7:30 am with the women's 5K race. The men's 8K race will begin at 8 am at the same location.
“The course is an exciting one with various kinds of terrain and scenery,” Hetherington said.
This will be the first action in over two weeks for the Trojans, and they will run a course they have never seen. They will also be battling the elements as there is a 50 percent chance of rain in the Pensacola-area on Saturday morning.
Results for the meet will posted as soon they become available on Saturday morning.
For more information and up-to-the-minute releases, make sure to check back with TroyTrojans.com. For ticket information, contact the Troy University Athletics Ticket Office at 1-877-878-WINS (9467).
