CLEVELAND, Ga. (Sept. 6, 2019) – The Truett McConnell University men's and women's cross country teams will kick off their 2019 season at the Florida Tech University Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 7, in Melbourne, Florida.

THE WOMEN'S SIDE

Senior Ivie Nobles will look to accomplish what only one TMU runner in school history has ever accomplished, and that is qualify for the NAIA national championships for four years straight. Nobles competed at nationals in 2016 (Illinois), 2017 (Washington) and 2018 (Iowa). In addition, junior Haleigh Martin will also be returning for the Lady Bears this season. Martin qualified for nationals alongside Nobles in 2017.

"We have got great leadership with the women being led by Ivie and Haleigh," Head Coach Jarret Holland said. "Both of these young ladies have been staples for our program and to date are the only two runners in the history of the women's program to qualify for nationals."

TMU will also be returning juniors Ansley Cain, Morgan Davidson and Emma Tubre, but have welcomed a newcomer from Augusta, Georgia.

"I feel like we've made a strong addition to the team by adding Savannah Campbell from Augusta Christian," Holland said. "I'm looking forward to the season and very anxious to see how the women's squad will perform this fall. I feel like we have a good mix of upperclassmen and incoming freshmen that will allow us to probably have one of the strongest teams we've had in recent memory."

THE MEN'S SIDE

"Our men's team underwent a little bit of an overhaul, so this should be an exciting year for the program," Holland said. "We've got a good nucleus of returning athletes and incoming freshmen who have bought into what we're about at TMU and it's been refreshing to witness so far."

Daniel Redding will be the lone senior for the 2019 squad. Also returning for the Bears are juniors Jose Santana, who qualified for the 2019 NAIA outdoor track & field national championships in the marathon, and Travis Parks, along with sophomores Stuart Farquhar, Seth Ledford and Owen Nobles.

Santana, Syler, Ledford and Nobles all finished in the top 50 at the 2018 Appalachian Athletic Conference championships.

"We have a good strong group of guys who believe in the Lord and are trying to grow, not only as runners, but more importantly as Christians," Holland said.

Full results will be posted following Saturday's events.