Running into Coker’s 2017 Cross Country Season

Running into Coker’s 2017 Cross Country Season

HARTSVILLE, S.C.- With a trio of new faces at the helm of direction of both the Men's and Women's Cross Country program at Coker College, Head Coach Tom Scott and assistants Daniel Bell and Meghan Serdock, will lead the Cobras on the trails this fall. 

Waiting at the Starting Line

With eight events to run for the 2017 season, Coker's Men's and Women's Cross Country programs are eager to race into the season. When the sound of the starting gun pops off on Sept. 2 at the Carolina Challenge in Columbia, S.C., the Cobras will be pushing towards putting their best foot forward.

"The kids have been working hard day in and day out," Head Coach Scott said. "They have been getting all of their repetitions in, doing all of the little things, which is what I preach a lot to them. If we can keep getting better after each day, week, and month, we'll certainly be ready when the SAC Championship rolls around."

Building on Last Season's Success

Senior runners Lisa Foster and Darroneshia Lott return for their final stint. For Foster, 2015 brought success as she ran in six of seven races with her best finish coming in the FMU Invitational when she finished eighth in 21:35.

Lott had a very Impressive 2016 season, finishing in the Top-20 in six races, including four times in the Top-10. Lott broke several personal and Coker College records in the 5k (1st- 18:37) and 6k (13th- 22:06.44). Lott was also named to the All-Region team for her performance, becoming the first in Coker women's cross country history to be given the honor.

Jacob Chebii will also be returning to the trails, this time as a junior leading the way for the men. Chebii, a native of Eldoret, Kenya, provided a great outcome in the 2016-17 season with three Top-20 finishes including a fifth-place finish at the Coastal Carolina Invitational (16:59.29) and sixth at the Bulldog Invitational (27:50.66).

Last season the men placed a season-best, finishing in third at the Bulldog Stampede at Wingate, with Chebii, Brandon Mullins and Razzel Kiplaget all posting Top-20 finishes in under the 30' mark.

On Your Mark, Get Set, Go Cobras

"This season we have our eyes set on the Regional Championships," said Scott. "I told our team that's our goal. To go out and have our best race when we go up to Wingate on Nov. 4. That's where our eyes and goals are and we'll try to get some national qualifiers. I couldn't be more excited to be a Coker Cobra."

You can follow the Coker Cross County teams' season at www.cokercobras.com.

2017 Men's Cross Country Preseason Poll

School Total Votes
1. Mars Hill 98
2. Queens 93
3. Anderson 80
4. Lincoln Memorial 70
5. Wingate 68
T6. Catawba 51
T6. Lenoir-Rhyne 51
8. Carson-Newman 35
9. COKER 24
10. Tusculum 23
11. Newberry 12

2017 Women's Cross Country Preseason Poll

School Total Votes
1. Queens 99
2. Wingate 90
3. Anderson 84
4. Catawba 69
5. Lenoir-Rhyne 59
6. Carson-Newman 56
7. Lincoln Memorial 49
8. Mars Hill 36
9. Tusculum 24
10. COKER 21
11. Newberry 14