ETSU familiarizes itself with the same course used for the Atlantic Sun Championships

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Sept. 14, 2013) – The ETSU cross country program kicked off the 2013 season on a positive note with a pair of top-10 finishes from both its men’s and women’s teams on Saturday in the Commodore Classic at Percy Warner Park in Nashville.

“We had a successful meet at the Commodore Classic,” said ETSU Director of Track & Field/Cross Country George Watts. “We stuck to our race plan and although we didn’t win, we clearly have more in the tank.”

“Both teams hit the time goals I was looking for and were competitive throughout the races. We are off to a much better start than last season and the expectations are high.”

The day began with the men in action first in an 8,000-meter run. Serving as the anchor for the Buccaneers on the day was sophomore Angus Baldwin (Tumbi Umbi, Australia) who traversed the course in a team-leading 25:27.32 and an 11^th-place overall finish. Baldwin was joined in the top-25 overall by teammates Adam Chase (Kingsport, Tenn.) at 17^th overall with a time of 25:33.29 and Filip Jalovy (Modrice, Czech Republic) at 23^rd overall with a mark of 25:37.78.

In total, the Bucs placed all seven runners within the top-50 overall with Anders Ludvigsen (Odense, Denmark) at 29^th overall with a 25:43.66 time, Sean Duffy (Jonesborough, Tenn.) at 32^nd overall with a time of 25:46.98, Desmond Pierce (Morristown, Tenn.) with a standing of 37^th overall and a 25:54.69 time and James Miller (Oak Ridge, Tenn.) 44^th overall with a collegiate-best time of 26:00.20.

These top-50 times led to ETSU scoring 112 points; good for third place and just behind second-place Mississippi State with 111 points and Atlantic Sun foe and home-team Lipscomb in first with 95 points.

The ETSU women followed the men in competition with a 5,000-meter race. The Bucs were once again paced by sophomore sensation Katie Hirko (Oley, Pa.) who led the team with a 24th overall finish and a 17:49.20 time. Hirko was joined in the top-50 by senior Chelsea Clark (Fairmont, W. Va.) with a 44^th overall standing and a time of 18:26.37. ETSU raced only five team members on Saturday; complete with Lisa Pallotta (Leesburg, Va.) at 73^rd overall with a 19:00.36 time, freshman Carmen Hilliard (Oak Island, N.C.) finishing 92^nd overall at 19:25.20 and Jessica Palmer right behind Hilliard at 93^rd overall and a time of 19:27.15.

With five runners, the women placed ninth out of 21 teams with a score of 288. Home teams Vanderbilt and Lipscomb crowded the top of the standings with the Commodores taking first with 38 points while the Lady Bisons earned second place with 68 points.

Both ETSU teams will be back in action next week with a trip to Blacksburg, Va. to take part in the Hokie Invitational on Friday, Sept. 20.

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