Cross Country Teams to Compete in Blue Ridge Open

Oct. 15, 2009

CLEMSON, SC – The men’s and women’s cross country teams will compete Friday afternoon in the Blue Ridge Open at Don Kennedy Trail. This will be Clemson’s second trip to Boone, NC for a meet this season. The Tigers competed in the Mountaineer Open on Sept. 18, with the women’s team finishing runner-up and the men placing fourth as a team.

The Blue Ridge Open will serve as a final tuneup for both squads, who will next compete at the ACC Championships in Cary, NC on Oct. 31. The women are currently ranked No. 12 in the Southeast Region, while the men’s team is No. 15.

Clemson will not compete some its top performers on the women’s team, including Kelsey Armstrong. Both have won individual championships this season for the cross country team. The women continue to be without the services of Jenna Baker, who is returning from injury. She will not compete this weekend.

Lauren Reen should be the top performer in action for the women’s squad. The freshman from Orlando, FL has been among the team’s top three finishers in two meets this season. She is coming off a 12th-place showing at the Charlotte Invitational two weeks ago.

Other females competing for Clemson this weekend include seniors Candace Sapp and Brannon Sulka, and freshman Sarah Turman.

The men’s team will feature nearly its entire roster, minus senior Bryce Iverson. The most consistent performer for Brad Herbster’s squad has been junior Jonathan Sunde, a native of Charlotte, NC. Sunde was runner-up in the season-opening 5K Gamecock Invitational. He placed 12th last time out in Charlotte.

Chad Holt, Chris Slate and Tyler Morey have also been consistent for the men’s team. All juniors, Holt and Slate have been among the team’s top three in each meet so far this season. Both are coming off top-20 finishes at the Charlotte Invitational, while Morey was just outside that position in 21st place.