Lady Govs confident entering GSU Cross Country Invitational

APSU Sports Information: APSU Cross Country

Hampton, GA – Austin Peay State University women’s cross country team will face a new challenge in from a course they have never ran before at the Georgia State Cross Country Invite’s 9:45am, Saturday, five-kilometer race, at Nash Farm Battlefield.

The Lady Govs look to continue building from last week’s performance (a third-place team finish) that saw sophomore Xiamar Richards record the first victory for a Lady Govs runner since 2008.

“Xiamar did a lot of work over the summer and that has made a big difference,” said head coach Doug Molnar. “She is just scratching the surface right now. She believes in her training and she is going to stick her nose in the front of the pack. She went to the lead early last week and it was over 200 meters into the race.”

The rest of the Lady Govs showed improvement as well, with four runners finishing in the top 25 not including Richards: junior Chantelle Gray (17th, 20:47), senior Janelle Avery (20th, 20:51), sophomore Kendra Kirksey (21st, 20:54), and sophomore Miranda Week (24th, 21:21).

“Our number two, three, and four runners were all in the top ten at one point and we held that for about a mile and a half then kind of faded,” said Molnar. “I believe that we are coming along, we got out harder. They are understanding that and starting to get that confidence so hopefully we can build on the confidence level.”

The Lady Govs are set to face a strong field that is tentatively scheduled to include two teams regionally ranked in the United States Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association Division I poll: Georgia (fifth, South Region) and host Georgia State (10th, South Region). The field also includes OVC rival Tennessee Tech, Morehouse, Kennesaw State, Troy, UNC Wilmington, Clayton State, and West Georgia.