Spartans Ready for Third Race of the Season
9/17/2009 12:00:00 AM | Cross Country
Sept. 17, 2009
SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The USC Upstate men's and women's cross country teams will travel to Blacksburg, Va. for Friday's Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational. The meet is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m.
Head cross country coach Jimmy Stephens said, "This event another step in preparation for the Atlantic Sun Championship in October. We will see several quality teams this weekend and it will help us improve as a team in the weeks leading up to the conference championship."
Upstate will compete in the Virginia Tech Alumni Invitational on Friday evening in Blacksburg, Va. The event is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. with Virginia Tech, Bluefield College, Concord University (W. Va.), Florida State, Ohio, Roanoke College, UNC Charlotte, and Wake Forest setting the field of eight opponents for the Spartans.
"This is a good meet for us to compete in, as some of the top teams from the south will be there. Our team will be focused and ready to run in this very competitive event," said assistant coach Carson Blackwelder.
In the Spartans last meet, the 26th annual Eye Opener Invitational, Gilbert Kemboi and Carolyne Chelulei each won their respective races. Kemboi finished with a meet record 25:00 en route to a 29-second victory at the Eye Opener. Meanwhile, Chelulei finished with a time of 18:12 and was just three seconds off of the meet record. The women's team claimed the top spot, while the men's team finished third overall.
The Upstate men's team had two other runners finish in the top 15. Christian Ritacco finished 11th after a time of 26:29, while teammate David Dennison finished 15th with a time of 26:43.
On the women's side Jemeli Sang finished third with a time of 18:26 with three others finishing in the top 18 to give Upstate five strong performances. Joan Tangwar posted a time of 19:08 en route to a 12th place finish, while teammates Emily Tangwar (19:22) and Lauren Walker (19:28) finished 17th and 18th respectively.
Following the event on Friday night, the Spartans will take next weekend off from competition before heading to Charlotte, N.C. on Oct. 2 for the Charlotte Invite.
