Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Coach O Invitational
Trojan Runners Take Top Honors at Coach "O" Invitational
10/13/2012 2:28:00 PM | Cross Country
Men's Results | Women's Results
TROY, Ala. - The Troy men's team took first place at their own 2012 Coach “O” Invitational while Troy individuals won both the men's and women's races on Saturday morning at the Trojan Oaks Golf Course.
“I don't have to do any searching today to figure out how well we performed,” Troy coach Jeff Jenkins said. “The results can speak for themselves. If you weren't at the meet you missed a great performance.”
“What a great day for the Troy Trojans,” Troy head coach Jill Lancaster said. “We run the meets in-house and it went off splendidly. We had a great crowd cheering all the athletes on.”
“Both programs looked like they are ready for the Sun Belt Championships and what it has to offer them. Obviously keeping the Coach “O” watches in Troy and the placings earning each Coach “O” t-shirt was a great reward for their efforts.”
Junior Enock Kirui took first place for Troy University winning the Coach “O” Invitational with a time of 27:25.08, leading the Trojan men's team to a first place finish. Junior Kemper Morton kept pace with Kirui throughout the race and came out with a second place finish with a time of 27:38.00
Freshman Phillip Jones finished seventh with a time of 30:28.35. Following close behind him were sophomore Sam Ammons and freshman Cameron Sanchez finishing eighth and ninth with times of 30:41.09 and 30:41.70, respectively. Freshmen Garrick Hawkins, Joel Chastain and Aaron Pacheco finished the race in 17th, 20th, and 21st for the Trojans.
Freshman Julia Ostendorf took top honors for the women's team winning the Coach “O” Invitational setting a collegiate personal best on a 5K course with a time of 19:55.90. Senior Morgan Paulson continued to be a force for the Trojans and helped them to a team second place finish recording a time of 20:26.95 in third place.
Junior Haley Davies finished 12th for the Trojans with a time of 22:27.30. Sophomores Kendall Harris, Anna Claire Scarlett and Robin Blackman finished 17th, 18th, and 19th for the Trojans with times of 23:07.98, 23:13.68 and 23:29.38.
Freshman Jackie Smith finished 25th for the Trojans with a time of 24:57.37 while senior Allison Paulson recorded a time of 25:19.61 and a 27th place finish. Senior Sally Taunton, senior Abby Barnett, senior Ja-Courtney Alexander, junior Luv Dean, junior Tiffany Slater, and senior Jasmine Patton finished 28th, 30th, 32nd, 34th, 37th and 39th respectively for the Trojans.
“We held our top runners back from the leader early in the race,” Jenkins said. “Admittedly, I was scared that the gap was just too large to make up, but the guys and girls both raced exceptionally well in the second half and we came away with two individual wins.”
“It is great to have the support of the university, community and alumni,” said Lancaster. “We want to thank everyone for offering their support.”
The Trojans now turn their attention to the Sun Belt Conference Championships which are being held in Bowling Green, Ky. on October 27th.
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