Troy University Athletics
Photo by: Troy University
Trojans Finish Second in Season Opener
9/5/2009 3:51:03 PM | Cross Country
TROY, Ala. - The first weekend of the cross country season was a success for Troy, not only in the finish, but in the support.
“I was happy to see the people that we had come out and support the teams today considering it is the first weekend of college football,” head cross country coach, Stephane Hetherington, said. “It says a lot about our program and the programs that were running in this weekend's meet.”
Director of Track and Field/Cross Country, Jill Lancaster, echoed those same sentiments from Hetherington on the race and considers the location a key in that success.
“The size doubled for last year with teams and fans,” she said. “ It is a good locale for both considering where the teams are from in this year's meet.”
While there was much support for the meet, both races came down to two teams - Auburn and the host Trojans.
On the men's side, the Tigers were able to fend off the hosts; winning by just nine points. Auburn claimed the top three spots in the individual collegiate races with Ben Cheruiyot claiming the championship with a time of 15:24.29. He was followed across the line by teammate Jean-Pierre Weerts with a time of 15:35.75. Auburn's Scott Novak finished fourth overall, but third in the collegiate ranks, with a time of 15:52.88. The Tigers also placed one other runner in the top 10, Jeff Sanders in seventh, to claim the title. The four runners in the top 10 helped the Tigers accumulate 36 points for the win.
Last year's winners, Troy, finished the day with 45 points and had two runners finish in the top 10 at the conclusion of the race. Denzel Ramirez was the top finisher for the Trojans on the men's side, crossing the line fifth overall and fourth collegiately, with a time of 15:57.81. He was followed by teammate Jeremy Moujoodi in ninth place overall, seventh collegiately, with a time of 16:23.83.
The Trojans also placed several runners in the top 20, with Enock Kirui crossing the line with a time of 16:27.82 in 11th place. He was followed by Nathan Rouse in 13th place with a time of 16:47.62, Terrence Dixon in 16th place with a time of 17:01.45, Drew Horner in 17th place with a time of 17:01.45 and Alec Hamm in 19th place with a time of 17:45.50.
Meanwhile, on the women's side, the Trojans battled against one of the SEC's best in Auburn. The Tigers used five top-10 finishes to capture the overall team title with 19 points, while Troy held off Alabama State with 56 points.
Holly Knight of Auburn claimed the title with a time of 10:55.46, and she was followed across the line by teammates Steph Barnes (10:57.46) and Laurel Pritchard (11:26.09) in second and third respectively. Alabama State and Troy were able to break the string of Auburn runners crossing the line, rounding out the top five. Kesia Derllus of Alabama State finished fourth with a time of 11:46.80, while Sylvia Chirchir finished fifth overall with a time of 11:51.77.
The Trojans' Kelly Harrington also finished in the top 10 in the season opener for the Trojans, crossing the line ninth with a time of 12:24.07. The Trojans also placed three other runners in the top 20 to help the team finish second overall in the competition. Anastasia Limo finished 13th overall for the Trojans with a time of 12:42.85; before freshmen twins Morgan Paulson and Allison Paulson crossed the line 14th and 15th overall. Morgan Paulson finished with a time of 12:50.64, while sister Allison finished with a time of 12:53.04.
“On both sides the times were where we expected them to be,” Hetherington said. “I was very pleased by the effort, it was more than I expected after the training sessions that we have been through in the preseason. If we came out and blew the field away, I would be scared. That would give us two or three good meets left, but it doesn't matter because the only one that matters is the last one [Sun Belt Championships].”
The Trojan Invitational is the first of two meets to be hosted by the Trojans this season, with the Coach O Invitational taking place on October 17.
“The second year of the event was great,” Lancaster said. “It is good to be able to host the event as it builds team chemistry with having to work together to put on such an event.”
The Trojans return to action in 13 days at the University of Alabama. The race will be the lone Friday race of the season for the Trojans, as they will in the Crimson Classic on September 18 at 5 pm.
“I was happy to see the people that we had come out and support the teams today considering it is the first weekend of college football,” head cross country coach, Stephane Hetherington, said. “It says a lot about our program and the programs that were running in this weekend's meet.”
Director of Track and Field/Cross Country, Jill Lancaster, echoed those same sentiments from Hetherington on the race and considers the location a key in that success.
“The size doubled for last year with teams and fans,” she said. “ It is a good locale for both considering where the teams are from in this year's meet.”
While there was much support for the meet, both races came down to two teams - Auburn and the host Trojans.
On the men's side, the Tigers were able to fend off the hosts; winning by just nine points. Auburn claimed the top three spots in the individual collegiate races with Ben Cheruiyot claiming the championship with a time of 15:24.29. He was followed across the line by teammate Jean-Pierre Weerts with a time of 15:35.75. Auburn's Scott Novak finished fourth overall, but third in the collegiate ranks, with a time of 15:52.88. The Tigers also placed one other runner in the top 10, Jeff Sanders in seventh, to claim the title. The four runners in the top 10 helped the Tigers accumulate 36 points for the win.
Last year's winners, Troy, finished the day with 45 points and had two runners finish in the top 10 at the conclusion of the race. Denzel Ramirez was the top finisher for the Trojans on the men's side, crossing the line fifth overall and fourth collegiately, with a time of 15:57.81. He was followed by teammate Jeremy Moujoodi in ninth place overall, seventh collegiately, with a time of 16:23.83.
The Trojans also placed several runners in the top 20, with Enock Kirui crossing the line with a time of 16:27.82 in 11th place. He was followed by Nathan Rouse in 13th place with a time of 16:47.62, Terrence Dixon in 16th place with a time of 17:01.45, Drew Horner in 17th place with a time of 17:01.45 and Alec Hamm in 19th place with a time of 17:45.50.
Meanwhile, on the women's side, the Trojans battled against one of the SEC's best in Auburn. The Tigers used five top-10 finishes to capture the overall team title with 19 points, while Troy held off Alabama State with 56 points.
Holly Knight of Auburn claimed the title with a time of 10:55.46, and she was followed across the line by teammates Steph Barnes (10:57.46) and Laurel Pritchard (11:26.09) in second and third respectively. Alabama State and Troy were able to break the string of Auburn runners crossing the line, rounding out the top five. Kesia Derllus of Alabama State finished fourth with a time of 11:46.80, while Sylvia Chirchir finished fifth overall with a time of 11:51.77.
The Trojans' Kelly Harrington also finished in the top 10 in the season opener for the Trojans, crossing the line ninth with a time of 12:24.07. The Trojans also placed three other runners in the top 20 to help the team finish second overall in the competition. Anastasia Limo finished 13th overall for the Trojans with a time of 12:42.85; before freshmen twins Morgan Paulson and Allison Paulson crossed the line 14th and 15th overall. Morgan Paulson finished with a time of 12:50.64, while sister Allison finished with a time of 12:53.04.
“On both sides the times were where we expected them to be,” Hetherington said. “I was very pleased by the effort, it was more than I expected after the training sessions that we have been through in the preseason. If we came out and blew the field away, I would be scared. That would give us two or three good meets left, but it doesn't matter because the only one that matters is the last one [Sun Belt Championships].”
The Trojan Invitational is the first of two meets to be hosted by the Trojans this season, with the Coach O Invitational taking place on October 17.
“The second year of the event was great,” Lancaster said. “It is good to be able to host the event as it builds team chemistry with having to work together to put on such an event.”
The Trojans return to action in 13 days at the University of Alabama. The race will be the lone Friday race of the season for the Trojans, as they will in the Crimson Classic on September 18 at 5 pm.
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