Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Troy University
Chirchir Wins Coach O Invitational, Teams Finish Well
10/16/2010 11:39:08 AM | Cross Country
The women finished as meet champions, while the men finish as runner-up
Mens Results | Womens Results
TROY, Ala. – For the second consecutive home meet, a Troy University runner came across the finish line to capture an individual championship. In the first home meet of the season it was a male runner, and this week Sylvia Chirchir cross the line first on the women's side to lead her team to an overall championship at the Coach O Invitational Saturday morning.
After the first time around the course, Chirchir trailed a pair of runners from South Alabama, before making her move on the final loop to overtake both runners. As the two battled down the stretch, Chirchir pulled away from her opponent to cruise into the finish with a time 11:42.41.
“I am really proud of Sylvia for running so well today,” coach Stephane Hetherington said. “She's really turned the corner in her running and we are looking for her to do well at conference.
“Training has been going really well and I had high expectations going into today's race for our men. They definitely came through.”
The next Trojan across the line was Morgan Paulson with a time of 12:23.56 to finish fifth overall. In a slight change of results from the past, a Trojan runner came between Morgan and twin sister Allison Paulson. Agnes Kapsoiyo finished between the two in sixth with a time of 12:24.23, followed by Paulson in seventh with a time of 12:25.26.
The other runners for Troy today were Haley Davies with a 11th place finish, with a time of 12:58.03; Catelyn Dake with a 15th place finish, with a time of 13:20.90 and Caitlyn Hannah with a time of 13:45.34.
On the men's side, several runners got a chance to run with the lead pack as Enock Kirui was given the week to rest for the conference championships.
Although Kirui did not run, the other runners picked up the pace and shared the top 10 with South Alabama; finishing second overall behind the Jaguars.
The first Trojan to finish the race was Cory Jones in seventh with a time of 16:38.72; while the next five runners across the line were all Trojans led by David Hudman in eighth with a time of 16:47.44.
Andre McElroy finished ninth with a time of 16:49.98; followed by Nathan Rouse in 10th with a time 16:58.95.
Rounding out the remaining runners for the Trojans was Kemper Morton in 11th with a time of 17:10.24 and Alec Hamm in 12th with a time of 17:11.27.
“It is pretty evident that we're peaking at the right time of the season,” Troy Director of Track and Field/Cross Country Jill Lancaster said. “They are all running with confidence, and we are really at a good point heading into the Sun Belt Championship.”
The Sun Belt Conference Championship will take place in two weeks in Bowling Green, Kentucky, on the campus of WKU.
