Cross Country Set For Season Opener
9/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | General
Sept. 1, 2009
FORT WORTH, Texas - The TCU cross country program will open its 2009 season on Saturday with the first annual TCU Cross Country Season Opener.
The meet will take place directly behind LaGrave Field along side the Trinity River. The men's 4-Mile race begins at 8:15 a.m., followed by the women's 2-Mile race at 8:45 a.m.
After two weeks of preparation, third-year distance coach Shawn Winget and the Horned Frogs will look to improve upon a 2008 campaign in which Festus Kigen competed at the NCAA Championships for a second-straight season, while the women finished No. 8 overall in the South Central Region.
"With this first meet, I expect us to come out and compete well in a competitive atmosphere," said Winget. "We are training really hard right now and I hope that we are able to get the season started off on the right foot. We just have to keep building and continue to get a little better everyday."
Overall, the distance program returns six runners on the women's side, while the men's team returns nine from last fall.
Meet Information
The field this weekend, which will be comprised of four teams on the women's side and three on the men's, includes North Texas, SMU, TCU and UT Arlington on the women's side. Men's teams competing on Saturday morning will be UNT, TCU and UT Arlington.
Follow The Horned Frogs
Fans not able to attend this Saturday's meet in Fort Worth can follow it by logging onto www.gofrogs.com. Results and a full recap will be posted following the conclusion of the women's race.
Women's Team Breakdown
TCU returns some talented runners on the women's side in 2009, including junior standout Tanja Ivandic who led the Horned Frogs in every regular-season meet last fall. Also back is sophomore Kelly Dawson. Dawson placed second overall amongst TCU runners at the MWC Championships in 2008.
Winget will welcome three very impressive newcomers into the mix this fall. All three, which includes Katie Dalton, Agnes Kemboi and Tricia Terry, will play huge roles in how the Horned Frogs fare this season both in conference and regionally.
Senior Amber Carlisle also returns this fall and will look to improve upon a solid 2008 campaign, while Julie Mayfield should also figure into the mix to have a breakout season in 2009 after competing at North Texas last fall.
Men's Team Breakdown
The TCU men's cross country program will lean on sophomore Louis Tijerina and junior Jeff Pels early this season with 2008 NCAA qualifier Festus Kigen red-shirting this fall.
Douglas Moore and Taylor Murray should also play a big role in TCU's success in 2009 after recording solid high school careers.
Also back on the men's side are Holden Hollingsworth and Tim Wang. Hollingsworth is poised for a breakout fall season, while Wang will be competing in a TCU uniform for the first time this Saturday.
One To Watch
When TCU takes to the course this weekend at the first annual TCU Cross Country Season Opener, Tricia Terry will be donning the Purple and White for the first time in her collegiate career.
Terry earned regional cross country champion honors twice during her time at McAllen Memorial High School in McAllen, Texas. The two-time 5A runner-up in the 1600 meters, has posted a personal-best time of 5:01.40 seconds in the 1600, while also clocking a personal-best time of 10:56.36 in the 3200 meters. She collected all-state honors during both her junior and senior seasons in cross country, while also being selected to the All-South National Regional Team.
Academic Success
This summer, the TCU women's track and field team was recognized as a U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) Division I All-Academic Track and Field team. On the men's side, the cross country program earned the NCAA Public Recognition Award. An award which is given each year to teams scoring in the top 10 percent in each sport with their Academic Progress Rates.
Up Next
TCU will next be in action at the Ken Garland Invitational on Sept. 19 in Denton, Texas.
Players Mentioned
