Cross Country Ready to Run in North Carolina
November 12, 2009

GREENSBORO, N.C. – After a historic victory for the women and a second place finish for the men two weeks ago at the American Southwest Conference Championships, both of The University of Texas at Tyler cross country teams are now focused on a common goal. That goal being securing one of two automatic berths to the NCAA Division III National Championships at Saturday’s South/Southeast Regional at Guilford College’s The Meadows cross country course in Greensboro.

The women will enter Saturday’s race carrying the momentum from their big win at the ASC Championships. The Patriots will be led in the race by the freshman duo of Ginny Murphy (Ovilla, Texas) and ASC Freshman of the Year Jessica Waninger (Tyler, Texas). Murphy and Waninger have been the top two UT Tyler finishers in every race this season.

Along with sophomore Sarah Hankla (Tyler, Texas), Waninger and Murphy broke the previous 6K school record when the Patriots raced at Guilford earlier this season. All three ladies received All-Conference honors this year.

The Patriots will also have the services of junior Natalie Holcomb (Whitehouse, Texas) and Jessica Ball (Daingerfield, Texas) in the race. Holcomb and Ball also earned All-ASC honors this year, while Holcomb was named ASC Newcomer of the Year, as well.

In the men’s race, first-team All Conference recipients Jeff Chandler (Longview, Texas) and Ross Renfroe (Tyler, Texas) will lead the way for the UT Tyler. Both Patriots were also named as ASC Runners of Week during the regular season.

Fellow All-Conference honorees Will Krogman (Mesquite, Texas) and Mark Saroni (Mesquite, Texas) will also provide the Patriots with firepower at the regional. As will senior Philbert Mutuyimana (Phoenix, Ariz.), who took home All-Region honors at last year’s race.

The 2009 NCAA Division III South/Southeast cross country regional will begin on Saturday at 11:00 a.m. EDT with the women’s 6K race, followed by the men’s 8K race at 12:00 p.m. EDT. The top two teams in each race will advance to next Saturday’s Division III National Championships at the Highland Park Golf Course in Cleveland, Ohio hosted by Baldwin-Wallace College. The top seven individuals in each race not on qualifying teams will also advance to the National Championships.

Athletics Home Page