JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – The Carson-Newman cross country teams open the season on Friday afternoon in Greenville, Tenn., at the Tusculum Open.
The Eagles will run the five-kilometer race at the Holston Homes Course again this year. Both squads found success on the course last fall.
Last season the women's team finished the meet in first-place ahead of Tusculum and Warren Wilson. The women's top individual runner from last year's meet was Sky McCarter (Sevierville, Tenn.) who placed second overall.
"Anytime you put on the uniform you want to go compete," Carson-Newman cross country coach Tyler Stepp said. "That is what we are looking to do, this early in the season. We aren't expecting our men or women to run their personal record time, but we do want them to compete well against the people they are running against."
Both Sarah Sharp (Lewis Center, Ohio) and Priscah Jemeli (Eldoret, Kenya) will look to improve on their top-15 finishes from last year's meet.
The men's team came in second last season in the Tusculum open. Amos Korir (Eldoret, Kenya) and Anthony Jackson (Manchester, Tenn.) lead the team individually, finishing in sixth and seventh place respectively.
"The biggest thing for them is just getting out there and running." Stepp said, "Just like the women, knocking off the rust from the summer and getting back out there and competing. The big thing for us as a coaching staff is to see what our new group looks like and establishing our new team dynamic."
Carson-Newman will face off in this year's meet against South Atlantic Conference rivals Lincoln Memorial and Tusculum. The Eagles will also face Brevard College, Johnson University, Maryville College, Milligan College, North Greenville University and Welch College.
The meet will begin at 6 p.m. on Friday evening with the women running first and the men will start about a half-hour later.
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