By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information

Covered Bridge Open
Date: Friday, Sept. 3, 2021
Time: 4:00 p.m. CT (women – 5K) & 4:45 p.m. CT (men – 8K)
Location: Don Kennedy Trails at State Farm | Boone, N.C.

COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech cross country teams kick off their 2021 campaigns Friday afternoon at the Covered Bridge Open in Boone, N.C. Hosted by App State, the event will take place at Don Kennedy Trails at State Farm.

The women's 5K will begin at 4:00 p.m. CT with the men's 8K to follow at 5:45 p.m.

Back for the Golden Eagle women's squad from the 2020-21 campaign are junior Tina Cesnik, sophomore Rahab Sawe, and returning freshmen Emma Bradford, Amanda Laboy, and Ruby Wyles. Last season, Cesnik took the top spot for the purple and gold twice while Laboy claimed the top finish for Tech in the other two meets.

New to the Tech women's roster for the 2021 season are freshmen Madeline Fricke, Maddie Long, Shelby Udovich, Taylor Ward, and sophomore transfers Helen Pacurariu-Nagy (CBU) and Katharina Schmidt (Arkansas State).

The Golden Eagle men's roster features returning senior Ababu Mohamed, and freshmen Chase Faudi, Rylee Hertter, Austin McCowan, and Clayton Kirkus. Last season, Mohamed was the lead man for two of three events he participated while Faudi took top honors in one.

Joining the Tech men's unit for the 2021 season are freshmen Nick Beattie, Robert Dawson, and, Miceal McCaul and sophomore transfers Christian Parker (Louisville) and Dominic Smith (Loughborough University).

The Field
The Covered Bridge Open field consists of host App State, as well as Coastal Carolina, ETSU, Florida State, High Point, Lee's McRae, Mercer, Milligan, Northern Kentucky, UNC Asheville, UNC Pembroke, and Western Carolina.

Up Next
Following this weekend's race, the Golden Eagles will compete next at the Vanderbilt Invitational on Feb. 17 in Nashville, Tenn.

Photos by Thomas Corhern