NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The three-time SSAC champion Lady Roadrunners opened the season in Nashville, Tennessee in a meet hosted by NCAA division I school Belmont University on Friday, September 2. Dalton State was the lone entry of the eight competing teams without an NCAA division I pedigree. The Roadrunners were still able to finish 5^th in the tough field behind Vanderbilt, Belmont, Murray State, and Lipscomb.
 
RECAP
The first Lady Bird across the line was junior Riley Jo Ford who finished the 5K in 19:07. She was followed by senior Kathryn Vradenburgh in 19:28 and then sophomore Giselle Dominguez in 20:12. Senior Haley Tillery (21:14), and freshman Marlene Paez (21:47) rounded out the top five. Close behind were junior Kayla Mattox (21:56), sophomore Ella Coley (22:11) and senior Rebecca Poe (22:19). It was the Roadrunners best showing in a race they had run many times before.  
 
QUOTES FROM COACH
Comments From Coach Dean Thompson:
"Although we're a long way from where we need to be ultimately, there were many reasons to feel good about our progress. We had some good performances on a course that has proven to be not so fast, and we had some that were not as good. But each of those performances could be easily explained. We're probably the healthiest we have been for the first meet of the season."
 
"I was happy to see Riley start the season off strong. This may have been her best overall cross country race of her college career. She had bit of a rocky summer, so it was good to see her run strong right away. I feel like she is still on her way up."
 
"Kathryn has been dealing with some personal illness that seemed to hit her hard about a mile and a quarter into the race. She is a champion, and will no doubt be back on track very soon. It wasn't a bad effort under the circumstances."
 
"Giselle began much better than last year at this race, and she had a great year last year. We're looking for Giselle to be a solid fast number three this year, and she is off to a good start to have that kind of season."
 
"I've been waiting for Haley to seize the opportunity to step up and it looks like she is heading in that direction. There is a lot of potential for her to be huge contributor this year. I believe she is going to have a great year in here last cross country season."
 
"Marlene has come in and worked extremely hard. It is good to see her charge into the number five spot on the team of that effort. This was a big PR for her on the cross country course, and she is only just beginning to show what she can do."
 
"Kayla is starting her season way ahead of where she was at the beginning of last year. She is one of those athletes who seems to get better each race, and I'm looking forward to seeing her week to week improvement as the season unfolds."
 
"Ella has been looking great in practice, so I know it is only a matter of time before it shows in the races. She is nowhere near where she will be soon."
 
"Rebecca has had some struggles through the years, but she comes into this season in pretty good shape. I am certain that we will see great improvement from her going forward."
 
"All in all, we never seem to run well at Belmont, but this was definitely our best start, so I believe we're headed down the right path. This bunch of ladies are determined to do their absolute best. You see it in the classroom, and you will see it on the cross country course. I'm proud to have the priviledge of coaching these ladies."
 
UP NEXT
(RV) Dalton State will hit the course again in two weeks time when they compete in the NAIA National Championship Preview at Appalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee, Fla. on Friday, September 16.