Golden Eagle cross country opens season Sept. 3 at Sewanee Invitational

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. -- The Tennessee Tech cross country and track & field programs have grown by five student-athletes as the 2011-12 season approaches. Head coach Tony Cox has announced the recent additions.

The newcomers to the women’s squad are Kara Webb (New Market, Tenn.), Harley Roach (Clarkrange, Tenn.), Elizabeth Mitchell (Manchester, Tenn.) and Kendale Caldwell (Powell, Tenn.) while Charlie Jordan (Gallatin, Tenn.) will join the men’s team.

Kara Webb

The daughter of Charles and Julie Webb, Kara Webb is a 2011 graduate of Jefferson County High School, where she ran cross country under coach William Ehrenclou and track and field for coaches Jenn Tate and Katie Hayes. She was named the best distance runner on her team for three consecutive seasons.

"Kara will be a great addition to the team," Cox said. "She should make an immediate impact on the cross country team this fall. She also ran in the state track meet this spring in the 1600 meters. She has a lot of potential to improve during her time at Tech."

At Jefferson County, Webb helped lead the Patriots to the Inter-Mountain Athletic Conference championship for four seasons in a row and excelled in the 800 meter, where she posted a personal-best time of 2:29.

Webb has yet to declare a major.

Harley Roach

Harley Roach is the daughter of Jon Wayne and Brenda Lee Roach and is a 2011 graduate of Clarkrange High School, where she competed in the shot put and discus and ran cross country for coach Robert Ross.

In shot put, she followed up a fifth-place state finish as a junior by taking third at the TSSAA Class A-AA State Track Meet in her senior year. She achieved National Elite status in the shot put with a throw of 37 feet, 10.5 inches and holds school records in both shot put and discus, in which she holds a personal record of 89.9 feet. As a senior, she qualified for the regional finals in discus.

"Harley is a hard worker with a lot of potential and is excited to see how good she can be in college," Cox said.

Roach intends to major in pre-med at Tennessee Tech and aspires to a career as an Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment doctor. 

Elizabeth Mitchell

The daughter of John and Alisa Mitchell, Elizabeth Mitchell graduated from Coffee County Central High School in 2011, where she was a four-year letterman in track and field under coach Stan Jarrell and in soccer for coach Rhonda Winton.

She helped the Red Raiders qualify for the State Track Meet each of her four years and specialized in the 4x800 meter relay, the mile and 4x400 meter relay. She owns a personal record of 5:42 in the mile and a best time of 2:29 in the 800 meter. In soccer, she played midfield and defense and was named team captain in 2010.

"Elizabeth was an important part of her high school team, and I expect her to contribute to the cross country and track team here," Cox said. "She has been working hard this summer to increase her mileage to be ready for cross country season this fall."

Mitchell was the recipient of the Carden-Jarrell Memorial Scholarship and was a member of the Beta Club and National Honor Society. She plans to major in nursing at Tech.

Kendale Caldwell

The daughter of Dale and Louann Caldwell, Kendale Caldwell graduated from Anderson County High School in 2011, where she was a four-year letterman in track and field under head coach Al Rodd and also ran cross country for the Mavericks.

Caldwell helped Anderson County to a sixth-place finish at the TSSAA AAA Sectional Team Finals in 2011 and a state A-AA team runner-up finish in 2008.

She competed in the 800 meter, 4x800 meter relay, and 400 meter. In her primary event, the 800, Caldwell posted a personal record time of 2:27.

"Kendale will contribute to our sprints group," Cox said. "She will be a 200 and 400 meter runner who will help us in the relays also. She is a hard worker and a good student, and I'm excited to see how much she improves in the coming years."

She plans to major in elementary education at Tech.

Charlie Jordan

Charlie Jordan is the son of Mike and Robin Goode and is a 2011 graduate of Station Camp High School, where he lettered in cross country and track and field under head coach Bob Frech.

Jordan competed in the 5K, 3200 meter, 1600 meter, 800 meter and 400 meter for Station Camp and posted a personal record time of 16:40 in the 5K.

He was the top finisher on Station Camp’s team at the TSSAA Class AAA state meet in each of his four seasons, leading the Bison to top 10 finishes each year, including a second-place finish in Jordan’s sophomore season.

The Bison were region champions for three of Jordan’s four seasons.

"Charlie was one of the top guys on his team in high school and I expect him to come in this fall and be an important part of the men's cross country team," Cox said. "He is a great student and is working hard to improve his mileage this summer so he will be ready to go this fall."

Jordan won Station Camp’s Career Excellence Award and was the Sumner County Runner of the Year in 2009. He earned all-county and all-Midstate honors all four seasons and was named all-state twice.

Jordan plans to major in biology or pre-med at Tech.

The Golden Eagle cross country teams begin their 2011 seasons Sept. 3 at the Sewanee Invitational in Sewanee, Tenn.