By Jonathan Caudle, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Tech men's cross country coach Peter Dalton announced his inaugural Golden Eagle signing class to National Letters of Intent since taking over the reins to the program that will join the program in 2020. The new Golden Eagles include Chase Faudi (Soddy Daisy, Tenn.), Clayton Kirkus (Hendersonville, Tenn.) and Austin McCowan (Cookeville, Tenn.).
"This first men's signing class is really exciting for the program, and for me personally because it's my first at Tech," expressed head coach Peter Dalton. "Adding these talented in-state student-athletes, to compliment the great squad already here on campus, is exactly how the team takes that next step."
Chase Faudi
Soddy Daisy, Tenn. (Homeschooled)
Faudi was a dual-sport athlete competing in cross country and track and field. He has produced a number of impressive personal bests during his prep years, including continually improving his 5K time each year of competition to eventually hold a 15:24 clocking as a senior. As a sophomore, Faudi set a personal best of 4:27.27 in the 1600-meter, before claiming personal-bests of 4:20.76 in the one mile and 2:01.75 in the 800-meter during his junior season.
Clayton Kirkus
Hendersonville, Tenn. (Hendersonville High School)
Kirkus joins the Golden Eagles by way of Hendersonville High School, where he competed in cross country and track and field for the Commandos. He won the 1,600-meter district championship and was named to the All-Midstate first team following his impressive senior campaign. Kirkus holds personal-bests of 16:15 in the 5K, 9:39 in the two-mile, and 4:43 in the 1,600-meter.
Austin McCowan
Cookeville, Tenn. (Cookeville High School)
McCowan comes to Tech by way of Cookeville High School, where McCowan was a four-year letterwinner for the Cavaliers. McCowan is a three-time cross country regional champion with the Cavaliers and has competed the past three seasons in the TSSAA State Cross Country Championships. McCowan was named Cookeville High School's Freshman of the Year during his debut season for the Cavaliers. During his junior season, McCowan advanced to the TSSAA State Indoor Championships in the 3,200-meter. He received the track MVP award, as well as being a two-time recipient of the academic award for cross country. His personal bests include 17:56 in the 5K and 10:44 in the 3,200-meter.
Academically, McCowan holds an unweighted 4.0 GPA. He is also the younger brother of current cross country and track and field student-athlete Courtney McCowan.
We're extremely excited to welcome a trio of signees to the Golden Eagle family for the 2020 season! Welcome Chase, Clayton, and Austin!
— Tennessee Tech Cross Country / Track & Field (@TNTech_XC_TF) November 15, 2019
��: https://t.co/eVT3AD5sf4#WingsUp pic.twitter.com/CrEwn5bhe8
