#TCCXC heads to Georgia for finale

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (November 17, 2017) – Tallahassee Community College's cross country season will come to a close on Saturday when the Eagles run a half marathon as part of the fifth annual Barney's Run for Warriors in Albany, Ga. 

The 13.1 mile race, certified by the U.S. Track & Field Association, will be run aboard Marine Corps Logistics Base. In addition to the half marathon, the morning will include a 5K, 10K and marathon, all beginning at 8:30 a.m. 

According to The Albany Herald, the race raises funding to provides former military service members who have sustained brain injuries or who are having difficulty dealing with stress disorders from their service with companion dogs that are trained to help alleviate the stress and improve daily life functions for the veterans. 

Seven of the Eagles' cross country runners, as well as head coach Gary Droze who will run a 10K, will toe the starting line on Saturday. Of the Eagles' runners, only Travis Parks' resume includes a half marathon. He and Joshua Guest will represent the Tallahassee men, whose inaugural season hits the finish line on Saturday. 

Meagan Giddens, who won the FCSAA State Cross Country Championship three weeks ago, will lead Tallahassee's quintet of female runners. She'll be joined by Olnick Duverge, Rachel Williams, and Alexis McElroy, as well as University of Tampa transfer Dorcas Jepleting, who will be making her official Tallahassee debut after running unattached in multiple cross country events this fall. 

Samantha Reilly, who ran for the Eagles in 2016 and is now assisting Droze, holds the school record in the half marathon with a time of 1:37.29.