ETSU cross country competed on Oct. 5 in Louisville, Kentucky, for the Greater Louisville Classic.
The Greater Louisville Classic was one of the biggest races that the Bucs have faced all season. The men’s side had a total of 41 teams competing while the women’s side had a total of 62.
“As you progress through the cross country season each race takes on a greater importance, the most important meets are at the end of the season.” said head coach George Watts. “The mindset is always give your best effort, but you are fitter and sharper at the end of the season.”
Sophomore Genevieve Schwarz (Oak Ridge, Tennessee) totaled 104 points placing them at second out of three women’s races.
“You have to be really careful that you don’t get out early in the race and worry about who you are or aren’t beating,” Watts said. “The second half of the race is where you have to dig down.”
Sophomore Shila Kapaya (Knoxville, Tennessee) finished in 14 with a time of 18:35.1, while junior Makayla Shaw (Jonesborough, Tennessee) placed 16.
Junior Heather Feuchtenberger (Elizabethton, Tennessee) has been out of the season since the beginning due to a summer injury, but this is her first 5K race back in the game.
“The game plan is always to PR. This course is a flatter course, so we should all run pretty quick,” said Feuchtenberger.
She came in 28 with a time of 18:57.7.
On the men’s side, redshirt junior Malick Gemechu (Johnson City, Tennessee) led the Bucs with a fifth place finish. The Bucs totaled 213 points, placing them ahead of five regional-ranked teams. Senior Adam Bradtmueller (Sarasota, Florida) came in 21 place with a time of 24:16.
“I think it is important that we keep our focus and have fun while we go, but we also take it really seriously since conference is coming up,” said Feuchtenberger.
The women’s team finished first out of all 62 teams while the men’s finished fifth out of 41 teams.
You can catch the cross country teams as they compete in their next race of Oct. 18 at the VertCross Invite in Kernersville, North Carolina.
