Academic All-American and NCAA regional participant Chris Berry is gone. So is his wife, Tara Gietema.
But as always, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga cross country cupboard is far from bare. And while 21st-year coach Bill Gautier is a little apprehensive about the women’s team for depth reasons, he sees the men’s team being able to run with all the Southern Conference except perhaps Kenyan-laden UNC Greensboro.
“Greensboro has the best — the best — runner in the NCAA this year, and a couple of other guys who went to the NCAAs,” Gautier said this week. “That has brought a bit of visibility for our conference, which certainly is stronger than it used to be. Furman hired the head coach from Ohio State, for another example. But we were one guy from being in the top two in the conference last year.
“You can’t replace Chris Berry — he’s been good since he got here — but he left a lasting impact on these guys.”
The UTC teams begin their season this evening in the PowerAde Invitational they host on the Moccasin Bend course, and Middle Tennessee State, Tennessee State, Austin Peay, UT-Martin and Lipscomb are among the Division I participants.