Two Finish in Top 20 at Cardinal XC Classic

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - Middle Tennessee's Geoffrey Lagat and Levi Sybert both finished in the Top 20 Saturday at the Cardinal XC Classic in Louisville, Ky., as the men finished ninth and the women 16th in the meet.

Lagat continued to improve his times for this season, finishing 14th in 25:46.00 in the 8,000m race, and Sybert set a personal-best by crossing the finish line in 25:52.00, good for 17th. Anthony McGary was 40th for the Blue Raiders in 26:35.00, with Edwin Koech (27:32.00, 71st) and Josh Carroll (27:41.00, 74th) rounding out the top five.

The Lady Raiders ran without Trisha DeValcourt, the squad's top finisher in the first two meets, because of injury, but Erin Russell returned to pace the team with a finish of 22:19.30 (94th) in the 5,000m race. Chelsea Taylor finished just behind Russell with a time of 22:20.90 (95th), while another newcomers, Fran Haas, ran 23:41.00 (106th). Kishara George (25:39.30, 112th) and Laura Smith (25:58.20, 114th) rounded out the top five for the Lady Raiders.

"Both squads ran very well, and the women got a boost from Erin being back and also the addition of Fran," Middle Tennessee head coach Dean Hayes said. "Geoffrey is getting better each race, and Levi set a PR today and that was fantastic. Anthony ran well, and so did Edwin, and Josh ran a very good race and continues to get better."

Both squads will next run at the Chattanooga Invitational in Chattanooga, Tenn., on October 19.

MEN - 8K
14. Geoffrey Lagat, 25:46.00
17. Levi Sybert, 25:52.00
40. Anthony McGary, 26:35.00
71. Edwin Koech, 27:32.00
74. Josh Carroll, 27:41.00
112. Sean Rabe, 31:28.00

WOMEN - 5K
94. Erin Russell, 22:19.30
95. Chelsea Taylor, 22:20.90
106. Fran Haas, 23:41.00
112. Kishara George, 25:39.30
114. Laura Smith, 25:58.20
117. Kerry Barrow, 27:49.90
120. Candice Robertson, 28:50.50

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