VIDEO: Acting coach Luke Greer previews Wingate Invitational
WINGATE, N.C. – The Carson-Newman cross country team will continue their 2019 campaign when they travel to Wingate, North Carolina for the Wingate Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 9 a.m.
Sophomore Rachel Strayer (Murfreesboro, T.N.) looks to continue her hot start after winning her first collegiate event at the Lenoir-Rhyne Invitational 5k in the team's season debut. The 2018 South Atlantic Conference Freshman of the Year beat her mark from last year's event at Lenoir-Rhyne by over six seconds.
"Rachel's had a couple of injuries which have kind of hampered her a little bit," acting coach Luke Greer said. "… I think she'll be back up there this weekend and we're just looking for another good performance."
Graduate student Conal McCambridge (United Kingdom) came in third in the men's 8k in his Carson-Newman debut.
"Conal is looking strong, he's leading the pack of boys but they're coming for him," Greer said. "They're trying to catch him and I think it's great in practice, they're all trying to chase him down and he's just trying to stay out in front so it's great to have that pack there."
One of the boys chasing McCambridge is freshman Jasper Wilson (Chickamauga, G.A.) who finished tenth at Lenoir-Rhyne in his first collegiate appearance. He is one of seven total freshmen who ran for the Eagles in their season debut, all of whom are finding their way at the DII level.
"In practice, we've been working on a lot of different things and I'm hoping that their strengths will come through in the race again," Greer said.
'The freshmen are looking good and I'm excited for how they race here and the rest of the season."
Senior Aubree Cole (Cartersville, G.A.) looks to improve upon a 9th place finish at Lenoir-Rhyne while underclassmen Klara Naude (South Africa), Angie Dela Cruz (Morristown, TN) and Alexis Brown (Chattanooga, TN) all aim for finishes inside the top-15 for the second consecutive race.
"They're all really confident and smart guys and girls," Greer said. "This is the time to do something different and see what works… not a conference, not a regionals but these are the type of races where we can get away with maybe trying something different."
Conference rivals Wingate, Coker, Newberry, Lincoln Memorial, Lenoir-Rhyne, Catawba and Uva-Wise will all be in attendance. Queens University and Anderson, the teams that finished first and second respectively in the SAC preseason poll on both sides, will not race.
Be sure to keep up with Carson-Newman cross country all across the Eagles social media platforms.
