Troy Heads Off For Sun Belt Championships

Watch | Live Results | Men's Map | Women's Map

BOONE, N.C. – The Sun Belt Championships gets underway on Saturday with the Troy men's and women's teams looking to take home the first conference titles of the athletic year.

Things will get started at 9 a.m. with the women's 5k event followed by the men's 8k event at 10 a.m. Both races will be streamed live on ESPN3 and live stats will be available, as well.

"This is probably the best I've felt about our team," head coach Elliott Blount. "I say that every year going in, but this is the best I've felt because the student-athletes on this team have taken strides each and every day since they got here.

"I think our team was ready to go last year but fell flat. They've matured from last season. I just want to get them there and get them on the line ready to run. I'm confident in them."

At last season's championships in Dothan, Ala., there were strong individual results, but the men's team ended up in eighth place while the women finished in 10^th. Bradley Dixon was the top finisher on the men's side at 26:24.3 while the women saw then-senior Samantha Smith take 26^th at 19:34.3.

This year's squads feature youth-friendly lineups that have put up results exceeding their age. Dixon, Brennan Garriques, Sawyer Sprung and Brackin Stewart lead a team that does not have a senior on the roster but has taken second-place in three of four meets this season.

Similarly, the women's team has seen the strongest times from freshmen Christie Caruana and Mackenzie Walsh. Caruana has taken the top spot on the team in every race she's competed in while Walsh was second in those same meets.

For more information on Troy cross country, visit TroyTrojans.com or follow the team on social media at @TroyTrojansTFXC.

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Christie Caruana

Bradley Dixon

Brennan Garriques

Samantha Smith

Sawyer Sprung

Brackin Stewart

Macki Walsh

Troy University Athletics