Cross Country Readies to Dominate at The American Championships

2017 American Athletic Conference Championships
When:	Saturday, Oct. 28
Where:	Belmont Plateau \| Philadelphia
Meet Central:	Roll Wave!
Twitter:	@GreenWaveXCTF
Facebook:	@GreenWaveXCTF

NEW ORLEANS – Tulane cross country will look to defend last season's dominating performance at the conference championships, Saturday morning, when the men's and women's teams return to Belmont Plateau in Philadelphia for the 2017 American Athletic Conference Championships. The men's 8k race begins at 9 a.m., while the women's 6k race is set to start at 9:50 a.m.

"Practices have been going well for the men's and women's teams," director of track & field and cross country Eric Peterson said. "I don't feel that we have yet to put together our best races as a team this season. We're hopeful that our runners are going to be ready emotionally and psychologically to accept the challenge. I know physically and from a training standpoint they're ready."

Last season at the conference championships hosted in West Chester, Ohio, both Tulane cross country teams captured their highest-ever placings, as the Green Wave men recorded a second-place team finish, which also counted for their highest conference finish since 2001, when the men claimed the Conference USA title. The Tulane women placed seventh, an improvement over eighth-place efforts the previous two years.

The Green Wave cross country squads opened their 2017 season at the same course, Belmont Plateau, hosting this year's conference championships, competing at the Temple Invitational on Sept. 1 and finishing with two third-place team finishes, including placing three runners in the top ten overall. On the men's side, junior Emmanuel Rotich won the 8k race with a time of 26:00.6.

"Emmanuel, on an individual basis, has had the strongest cross country season of his career," Peterson said. "He is healthy and very fit, and I know that he's ready for this challenge. This weekend is the most exciting time of the cross country season, as we get through the regular season and enter the post season. I feel like the guys are ready."

On the women's side, seniors Lauren Bartels and Emma Newton paced the squad in the Temple Invitational 6k, finishing third (22:16.6) and sixth (22:30.5), respectively. Sophomore Mckenzie Melius finished 13th with a time of 23:42.7, and freshman Bridgid Selfors earned a 14th place finish (23:48.4).

"We're going to be most successful this weekend if Emma and Lauren step forward and have a good day," associate head coach Michael Nussa said. "I think that they are both capable of being in the top ten, if not in the top five. We need to run as a good close pack at three, four, and five. Closing that gap between one and five is going to be really important for us this weekend, and, if we do that, I think we have an opportunity to place in the top three or four in the conference."

Fans can follow along for results on Twitter (@GreenWaveXCTF) or find the team on Facebook. Follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and @TulaneAthletics on Snapchat.

Cross Country Readies to Dominate at The American Championships

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Players Mentioned

Lauren Bartels

Mckenzie Melius

Emma Newton

Emmanuel Rotich

Bridgid Selfors

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