By Mike Lehman, TTU Sports Information
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Tech cross country teams saved their best for last Friday afternoon, as the purple and gold wrapped up the 2024 regular season with a pair of titles at their very own Golden Eagle Invitational.
Playing host to five other teams at the Putnam County Sports Complex in Cookeville, the pair of Tech squads picked up their first wins of the season.
The Golden Eagle women set the tone early in the 6K, edging out Northern Colorado by just two points. The Cookeville crew tallied 28 total points to top the Bears, thanks to a healthy number of impressive runs across the board.
Leading the way with a runner-up performance and a new personal record in the 6K was sophomore Makaleigh Jessee, clocking in at 21:33.8. Not only was the time a new PR, but her runner-up finish was also a career-best.
Placing fourth overall and second among the Golden Eagles was senior Helen Pacurariu-Nagy, producing a season-best time of 21:48.2. Right on her heels in fifth place, freshman Rylee Wells continued her sensational rookie campaign with a new PR of 21:53.3.
Clocking in at 22:02.9 for a sixth-place showing was fellow freshman Savanna Amos, who also earned a new personal record in the 6K. Rounding out the scoring crew for the Tech squad with an 11th-place performance was senior Chloe Wade, crossing the finish line with a PR of her own at 22:26.1. Joining her teammates in the PR party was rookie Megan Forstner, finishing 16th with a time of 22:50.9.
The Tech men's team found a little more cushion in its victory, totaling 31 points for the edge over Morehead State (43 points) and Northern Colorado (48 points).
In his final regular season meet as a Golden Eagle, Miceal McCaul earned his second career individual title and first since winning the Chattanooga Invitational back on Oct. 14, 2022. The senior cruised to an eight-second win with a time of 25:37.4.
Two spots back in third place with his best career finish was junior Carter Bradford, delivering a performance of 25:57.7. Following his teammate in fourth place, senior James Hyland kept the purple and gold in the top spot with a time of 26:20.6.
Producing an impressive run to secure 10th place, rookie Dante Torres crossed the finish line at 26:56.7. Completing the scoring effort for the purple and gold, junior Robert Dawson clocked in at 27:17.8 to finish 14th overall and secure the Tech victory.
Coming up for the Golden Eagles is a trip back to Martin, Tenn. for the 2024 Ohio Valley Conference Championships on Friday, Nov. 1.
Photos by Jim Dillon
