Posted: Oct 26, 2017
By Layne Weitzel, TTU Sports Information
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CHARLESTON, Ill. – The Tennessee Tech women's cross country team has finally hit postseason competition, finalizing preparations for the 2017 OVC Cross Country Championship to be run on Saturday, Oct. 28.
"We are very excited and eager to be competing in the OVC championships this week," said head coach Wayne Angel. "It looks to be an outstanding championship on both sides."
The championship will be held at the Panther Trail course in Charleston, Illinois, marking the first time that Eastern Illinois has hosted the race since 2005. Tech's 5k race will go off at 10 a.m. CT.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
Austin Peay
Belmont (ranked 10th in the latest South Region rankings)
Eastern Illinois
Eastern Kentucky (ranked 21st in the latest USTFCCCA National Coaches' Poll)
Jacksonville State
Morehead State
Murray State
Southeast Missouri
SIUE
Tennessee State
TENNESSEE TECH
UT Martin
Tech's women's squad placed seventh at last year's championship, its best finish since tying for sixth in 2010 (Tech hosted the race that season). Then-junior Micayla Rennick earned All-OVC first team honors after placing sixth overall with a personal-best, school-record 5k time of 17:29.8.
"Our women will look to improve on last year's performance," said head coach Wayne Angel. "We have been struggling a little this year due to injuries. I'm hoping Micayla can bounce back and give us some badly needed assistance. I look for Purity (Sanga) to be a top-five performer this week. She has been racing exceptionally well. Madison (Stremler) and Anna (Cooper) have been training very hard. I am looking forward to breakthrough performances from them this week.
Freshman Sanga will likely lead the women on Saturday, entering the race with the fifth-fastest 5k time in the OVC this season (17:38.1). Rennick also has a chance to repeat as an All-OVC first team member. She started but did not finish the Pre-Nationals race two weeks ago in Louisville, Kentucky, due to an injury.
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Photo by Thomas Corhern, TTU Sports Information
