MURFREESBORO, Tenn. --- University of Tennessee at Chattanooga senior Chris Berry (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) took first in the men's 3000 meter run at the Valentine Invitational at the Murphy Center on the campus of Middle Tennessee.
Berry ran the event in a time of 8:32.22, better than two seconds ahead of Western Kentucky's Kyle Chettleburgh. Junior Lucas Cotter (Collierville, Tenn.) finished second in the men's 800 meter run with a time of 1:55.21, a PR, and just .32 seconds off the top place pace set by host Middle Tennessee's Justus David. Sophomore Drew Austell (Memphis, Tenn.) was eighth in the event with a time of 1:59.99.
Junior Kathryn Stuart (Brentwood, Tenn.) set a PR in the women's Mile with a time of 5:15.31, edging her previous best time and placing fourth in the event. Also fourth for the women was sophomore Amanda Sumner (Bristol, Conn.) in the women's 800 meter with a time of 2:17.55, just over one second behind the winning time of 2:16.19 set by MTSU's Amber Jackson. Sophomore Gabby Cader (Cleveland, Tenn., was fourth in the women's 400 meter dash with a time of 1:01.26.
Senior Tara Gietema (Knoxville, Tenn.) finished sixth in the women's Mile with a time of 5:21.65 and junior Morgan Buchanan (Johnson City, Tenn.) was 11th in the event. Senior Emmanuel Kirwa (Kapsabet, Kenya) led Chattanooga in the men's Mile with a time of 4:25.42, good for sixth place. Junior Joshue Vasquez (Johnson City, Tenn.) was eighth in the event with a time of 4:28.47 followed by sophomore Mark Cole (McKenzie, Tenn.) with a time of 4:28.58, a PR.
Freshmen Samantha Pulido and Taylor Pannell (Sale Creek, Tenn.) ran the 55 meter hurdles. Pulido was fifth with a time of 9.43 seconds while Pannell was sixth with a time of 9.64 seconds. Sophomore Sarah Washington (Tullahoma, Tenn.) was seventh in the women's 400 meter dash with a time of 1:04.37. In the women's 800 meter run freshman Jessica Philpott (Manchester, Tenn.) was seventh with a time of 2:28.11 and classmate Ambria Reese (Memphis, Tenn.) was eighth in the event at a 2:29.52 pace.
Freshman Dezerick Frazier (Goodletsville, Tenn.) was fifth in the men's 400 meter dash with a time of 50.50 seconds and junior Blake Olson (Pleasant View, Tenn.) was eighth in the men's 55 meter hurdles with a PR of 8.64 seconds.
The Running Mocs will gear up for the 2012 Southern Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships hosted by Samford University in Birmingham, Ala., on Feb. 23-24 at the Birmingham CrossPlex.
Women's
Mile
4. Kathryn Stuart Jr. 5:15.31 PR
6. Tara Gietema Sr. 5:21.65
11. Morgan Buchanan So. 5:29.36
400 meter
4. Gabby Cader So. 1:01.26 q
7. Sarah Washington So. 1:04.37 q
800 meter
4. Amanda Sumner So. 2:17.55
7. Jessica Philpott Fr. 2:28.11
8. Ambria Reese Fr. 2:29.52
55 meter Hurdles
5. Samantha Pulido Fr. 9.43
6. Taylor Pannell Fr. 9.64
4x400 yard relay
4. Chattanooga A 4:14.49
Men's
Mile
6. Emmanuel Kirwa Sr. 4:25.42
8. Josh Vasquez Jr. 4:28.47
9. Mark Cole So. 4:28.58 PR
11. Nathan Wanuch So. 4:33.41
11. John Gilpin So. 4:33.41
15. Patrick O'Brien Fr. 4:39.57
400 meter
5. Dezerick Frazier Fr. 50.50
800 meter
2. Lucas Cotter Jr. 1:55.21 PR
8. Drew Austell So. 1:59.99
3000 meter
1. Chris Berry Sr. 8:32.22
55 meter Hurdles
8. Blake Olson Jr. 8.64 PR
4x400 yard relay
4. Chattanooga A 3:29.26
6. Chattanooga B 3:44.09
