Mia Wiederkehr completes the first lap at the Prefontaine Forest Run 5K. (photo courtesy of Greg Rowland)

Posted: Sep 29, 2016

TCC, Chipola ready to add new chapter to rivalry

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (September 29, 2016) – The longtime rivalry between Tallahassee Community College and Chipola College will add a new chapter on Friday when the schools square off head-to-head in women's cross country for the first time ever.

The dual meet is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. eastern at Citizen's Lodge Park in Marianna, Fla.

Tallahassee and Chipola have waged many memorable battles on the hardwood and diamonds over the last 25 years. Once the Eagles announced the addition of women's cross country, it was only a matter of time before the rivals met up on the trail.

Both teams participated in Godby High School's Cougar XC Challenge at Phipps Park on August 26. In its first-ever meet, Tallahassee posted a third-place finish (75 points) while Chipola finished fourth (90 points).

Both teams returned to the trails last weekend – Tallahassee ran in another "home" event, the Prefontaine Forest Run 5K at Silver Lake; Chipola in the University of Florida's Mountain Dew Invitational.

The Eagles' Samantha Reilly was the top female runner at last Saturday's event, finishing the 5K in 22:58, bettering her previous time by 29 seconds. Five other runners joined Reilly in the top 20 – Mia Wiederkehr, Monet Madeux, Ashley Jones, Ellie Stubblefield and Jeanna Prisco.

Friday's meet begins a busy second half schedule for the Eagles, culminating with the NJCAA Region 8/FCSAA State Cross Country Championships at Apalachee Regional Park on Friday, November 4.