Emily Poole wins 5K at Emory Invitational, takes second in 10K

The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga women’s outdoor track and field team closed out the recent Emory Invitational in fifth out of 24 teams with 56 points at the Emory University Track.

Just one day after taking second in the 10K, Chattanooga’s Emily Poole – a former cross country standout at Heritage - won the 5,000 meter seeded race with a time of 17:36.33. Abby Bateman just missed a personal record (PR) in the women’s 800 meter run, finishing second at 2:19.07.

“Emily ran a smart race less than 24 hours after getting second in the 10K,” Chattanooga head coach Andy Meyer said. “She won the race impressively and was just a handful of seconds off her PR. Abby ran her best strategic race of the season.”

The Mocs had eight Top 10 finishers Saturday including all four runners in the 5000 meter. Sophia Neglia placed sixth for Chattanooga with a time of 18:07.67 in her first collegiate 5K. Brianna Nelson demolished her previous top time with a PR of 18:19.78, placing seventh. Rebekah Wich, running her second long distance race in as many days, was just seconds off her PR placing ninth overall in a time of 18:38.96.

Nicole Buerhle was fifth in the 800m just off her PR with a time of 2:20.93 and Hannah Caldwell, just tenths of a second off her previous best time, placed seventh in the 1500 meter with a time of 4:53.14.

The men’s cross country team had a very good showing Saturday, running several events unattached in their first outdoor meet of the year.

All three Mocs in the 1500 meer placed in the Top 10. John Payne finished fourth with a time of 4:03.91 and Mark Britt finished sixth in a time of 4:04.83. Nathan Watson ran the distance in a time of 4:07.24, placing eighth overall. Gavin Hasty covered the men’s 800 meter in a time of 1:57.47

Another former Heritage High standout, Ryan Gebelein, ran a 15:33.53 in the 5,000 meter, winning his heat and placing 11th overall.