JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman Cross Country prepares for the second meet of the season at the Cherokee Farms Invitational on Saturday, Sep. 21 in Knoxville, Tenn. beginning at 9:30 a.m.
"We've really taken a step up this week," said Borden. "Going into the week with new terrain and a more realistic course, we're going to see times drop and better performances."
Cherokee Farms Invitational includes all levels of competition with multiple Division I schools and only one SAC school in UVA Wise attending, Borden looks forward to seeing how his team responds to higher level competition.
"We're looking to go out there and get the win," Borden said. " I think we can get a first place finish on both sides and we need to compete to get the win."
Eagles' Jenna Pittman ran her way to a second place finish in the season opener in the women's 4K with a time of 15:59.4. Pittman hopes to use that performance to boost her in the upcoming race.
"It's a confidence booster and shows me I can compete with the competition, and I am looking forward to the rest of the season," said Pittman.
Pittman's freshman year saw her earn personal bests in the women's 6K in 21:55.0 at the South Atlantic Cross Country Conference Championship and women's 5K in 18:23.1 at the ASICS XC Invitational last year.
'I want to hit a new PR in my 5K this week," Pittman said. "I would love to go and compete with the competition there."
In the first race of his collegiate career, Henry Hunter secured an eighth place finish at the LMU Railsplitters Open in the men's 6K in a time of 21:15.4.
"It was a tough course but it was a good opener," said Hunter. "It helped prepare me mentally and physically for the college running game."
Despite the difficult course to open the season, Hunter was confident in his ability to perform at a high level.
"It's going to help us get tougher mentally," Hunter said. "We can say that we did well but take it one race at a time."
This meet will be the second of five new courses the Eagles will face this season. The other new venues being Nooga at Night on Saturday, Oct. 12 and the SAC Championships in Spartanburg, S.C. on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Stay up to date with all things Carson-Newman Cross Country by visiting cneagles.com.
