ESCC Cross Country Set to Open 2023 Season
Enterprise State Community College men’s’ and women’s cross country teams are set to open their second season at the JSU Foothills invitational at Choccolocco Park in Oxford, AL.
The invitational will feature teams from NCAA Division I to junior college competitors, including conference rivals Calhoun CC, Coastal- East CC, Gadsden State CC, LBW CC, Northeast Alabama CC, Norwest Shoals CC, Southern Union CC, and Wallace State.
The Foothills Invitational is designed specifically as a season opener, with a shorter race on a flat but fast course. It is a great opportunity to check individual and team development from the offseason while competing within the College’s conference.
“I am excited for this season,” returning head coach Chris Christian said. “Each individual runner on the men’s and women’s team has put a lot of hard work and mileage into their training during the lead up to this first race. Despite the harsh weather conditions, they have never deviated from what was expected from them, and I see the hunger to compete and show off to the rest of the conference that the Weevils have come to play.”
The men’s team is highlighted by returning runners Bryan Cooper of Chipley, FL, and Nathan Kinney of Enterprise, AL. This year’s newcomers are Ethan Johnston of Dothan, AL; Cole Charles of Elba, AL; Lamar Sowell of Chipley, FL; and first-year runner Gabriel Pearson from Enterprise, AL.
The women’s team is highlighted by returning runner Ty’Andrea Tillis of Elba, AL. Newcomers are freshman Abby Allen of Geneva, AL, who had a strong high school season; Mirna Thompson of Enterprise, AL; Katie Hallman of New Brockton, AL; and Tayler Clouse of Dothan, AL. Sophomore Amber Boettcher of Ft Novosel, AL, a first-year runner for ESCC, and freshman Shelby Dewberry from Dothan, AL, representing the Wiregrass Kings, round out the group ready to make a name for themselves.
The women’s 4km race will begin at 5:45pm followed by the men’s 5km at 6:25pm on Friday, Sept. 1.