Sept. 6, 2007
ATLANTA – After a long off-season, the Georgia Tech men’s and women’s cross country teams open their 2007 season at the UTC Invitational on Friday evening at the Moccasin Bend race course in Chattanooga, Tenn.
“We are excited about our first competition to open our fall campaign,” Head Coach Alan Drosky said. “After months of preparation on their own and two weeks of pre-season practice, the teams are ready to put on the spikes and see where they are at.”
Tech will join host Chattanooga of the Southern Conference along with Southeastern Conference members Auburn, Alabama and Ole Miss. The races will also include Tennessee State and Jacksonville State of the Ohio Valley Conference and Middle Tennessee of the Sun Belt Conference. The women’s two-mile race is set to begin at 5:45 p.m. and the men’s five kilometer race will follow at 6:15 p.m.
“The UTC Invitational is a meet we are very familiar with as we have opened our season there many times,” Drosky added. “Many members of our team have competed on the course in the past. It’s a fair cross country course, somewhat gentle hills and a lot of grass. The competition will be solid for a season opener, with Alabama, Auburn, Ole Miss, Chattanooga, and a few other schools.”
All-South Region runner Nisha Kurian, a senior from Canton, Ohio, leads the women’s team into Chattanooga this weekend. Kurian, who finished first for Tech in four of the six races she entered in 2006, will be joined by seniors Elena Linn and Jenny Sims to give the Jackets three very experienced competitors, who will lead a group of 10 Jackets in the season opener.
“Nisha Kurian and Elena Linn will line up for their senior seasons,” Drosky said. “Both have developed well in our program and continue to lead our team. Jenny Sims also returns for her senior year and is looking to build on a very successful track season. Junior Katina Zuganelis has continued to develop and has looked great in the pre-season.”
On the men’s side, senior David Herren, who finished first for the Jackets in all six races last season, leads the charge. Also returning to the men’s squad is senior Cristan Duvall, who missed last season due to injury, and junior E.C. Gibbs. Twelve members of the men’s team will be on the starting line Friday.
“David Herren returns after a great 2006, plus Cristan Duvall returns for his senior year,” Drosky continued. “It’s been a while since we have seen Cristan on a cross country course, so we’re excited about that. Also, transfer Iain Turnbull will compete as a Yellow Jacket for the first time and he will add a lot to our line-up.”
