Former UVa athlete, competing in the middle distances...

Tatu was a multiple All-ACC performer on the track as well as cross country, and was an all-American in the DMR in 2007. As fast as his collegiate PR's are (1:49 and 3:46), Tatu, who ran them his sophomore year, knows he can do better. At RMR, Tatu is re-united with his college coach, Brad Hunt, and expects to quickly establish a new set of personal records this spring. In the spring of 2009, Tatu became the first RMR athlete to qualify for the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, qualifying for the men's 1500 meters.

PRs:
    800m: 1:49
    1500m: 3:44.30
    Mile: 4:03.97 (Furman, SC, 2010)
    8k: 24:21

Recent UVA grad, middle-distance specialist...

Jesien culminated an outstanding collegiate career at the University of Virginia (2009) with a 7th place finish at the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships in the 1500. During his last two years at UVA with coach Brad Hunt and Jason Vigilante, Jesien garnered many other individual and team accomplishments,including an ACC Championship in the 1500, NCAA finalist in the 1500, and an All-American and school record performance in the DMR. Now a post-collegiate athlete, Jesien joins Ragged Mountain Racing to continue training under the direction of Hunt and Vigilante, hoping to build on his previous success to achieve ambious goals for the 2010 track season.

PRs:
    1500m: 3:41.76
    mile: 3:58.91 (i) (University of Washington, 2010)
    8k: 24:12

VMI School Record Holder, All-American Steeplechaser ...

Cowart’s 2009 collegiate season was headlined by his All-American steeplechase performance at the NCAA Championships. During his final outdoor track season as a Keydet he also set a new VMI record in the steeplechase and was the Big South steeplechase champion. He also had a strong indoor season, including being named the Track Performer of the Meet at the Big South Indoor Championships and setting a new VMI record in the mile run at the ICAAAA Championships. Also, Cowart shared the Big South Track and Field Athlete of the Year honor with Liberty’s Sam Chelanga. Cowart had the opportunity to finish out his college career at the US Track and Field Championships where he finished 11th in his heat. Donnie joins Ragged Mountain Racing with the goal to build upon the success he was blessed with his final collegiate season in the Steeplechase.

PRs:
    800m: 1:51.0
    1500: 3:43.56
    mile: 4:04.35

Former W&M athlete seeks to translate success on the road to success on the track...

A 2005 graduate of the College of William and Mary, Charlie is a savvy racer who aspires to take on the national stage. At William and Mary, Hurt was named All Southeast Region twice and led the team at the NCAA Cross Country Championship in 2003.

Hurt's success continued after college. Most notably, Hurt won the 2008 Charlottesville 10-miler with a personal best of 51:02 and successfully defended his title in the following year. Hurt also finished 6th overall at the USATF Trail 10k Trail Championships (2009), in the top twenty at the United States National 10K Championships (2008) and was the third American in the Virginia Beach Shamrock 8K (2008). Hurt currently lives in Charlottesville and coaches at Western Albemarle High School.

PRs:
  5000m: 14:59
  8000m (Road): 25:01 (Virginia Beach, 2009)
  10,000m (Road): 30:38 (Richmond, 2008)
  10 mile: 51:02 (Charlottesville, 2008)
  Half Marathon: 1:09:16 (Philly Distance Run, 2008)

3:46 / 1:50 runner moves from Louisiana to Virginia...

Hendry joins a talented nucleus of middle distance runners at RMR after an outstanding collegiate career at LSU from 2005-2008. Most notably, Hendry earned All-American status after running the 1200 meter leg of the Tigers 2008 DMR team, leading his squad to a 6th place finish at the NCAA Indoor Championships. Individually, Hendry's track times place him in the top 10 on several of LSU's all-time performance lists, including the 8th fastest indoor mile in school history. During outdoor competition, Hendry posted personal bests of 1:50.37 in the 800 meters and 3:46.68 in the 1,500 meters. Hendry continues to acheive success while training with RMR and has lowered his 1500 PR to 3:45.78.

PRs:
    800m: 1:50.37
    1500m: 3:45.78
    Mile: 4:05.03

1:47 800m runner, now reunited with coach Brad Hunt in Charlottesville, VA...

Inge trained under Brad Hunt at Kent State University, where he had incredible success as a middle distance runner (personal bests of 1:47 and 3:46). Inge's collegiate career included a trip to the 2004 Olympic Trials in the 800 meters, where he missed the final by .04 of a second. Still, Inge was a two time All-American indoors and a two time NCAA outdoor championships qualifier while at Kent State and a 5 time Mid American Conference Champion in the 800 meters.

Unfortunately, the latter part of Inge's collegiate experience was marked by injury. Furthermore, his collegiate coach, Brad Hunt, ultimately left Kent State to become a distance coach at the University of Virginia. The formation of Ragged Mountain Racing has given Inge the opportunity to be reunited with his collegiate coach, and Inge, now recovered and training under Hunt, is looking to pick up where he left off.

PRs:
    800m: 1:47
    1500m: 3:46

PhD candidate at UVa, training for 5,000m, 10,000m, and the road...

McGuire's running career has been defined by slow but steady improvement, as well as a remarkable ability to overcome adversity. While at Duquesne University (Pittsburgh, PA) from 2000-2005, McGuire guided his cross-country team to consecutive 2nd place Atlantic 10 finishes. In May of 2003, McGuire fractured both his tibia and fibula in the midst of a steeplechase race, an injury which left him with extensive hardware in his leg, including a 14" metal rod (still in place). Despite that setback, McGuire spent the next 9 months of his life in intensive rehab, and was ultimately able to return to the sport he loves - in the year following his injury he managed to set multiple collegiate PR's in both cross country and on the track.

After competing for Duquesne University as an undergraduate and earning a Masters Degree in Instructional Learning Technologies while training with the Pittsburgh Pharaoh Hounds, Pat moved to Charlottesville to earn his PhD. His immediate goals are to further improve his track times, and in the long term is considering a jump to the marathon distance. Since joining Ragged Mountain Racing in the Fall of 2008, McGuire continues to show steady progress and is looking to set several new PR's in 2009 and beyond.

PRs:
    3000m: 8:29 (Kent State, 2005)
    5000m: 14:49 (Bucknell, 2005)
    8000m (Road): 25:06 (Charlottesville, 2009)
    10,000m: 30:53 (Raleigh Relays, 2009)
    Half Marathon: 1:09:05 (Philly Distance Run, 2009)

Former Kent State athlete standout, reunited with former coach Brad Hunt and teammate Mike Inge...

Hutchinson is a 2007 graduate of Kent State University, where he was both a school record holder and an All-Conference performer in the MAC. In his last year of competition for the Golden Flashes, he raced to personal records in the 1500, 3k, 5k and 8k. Still, Hutchinson feels that his potential has not yet come close to being met and so he has joined RMR in hopes of continuing to improve upon his previous performances. He is looking forward to lowering his current PR's, as well as a possible move to longer events, including the marathon.

PRs:
    3000m: 8:18
    5000m: 14:14
    8000m: 24:36
    10,000m: 30:04
    10 miles: 50:58 (Charlottesville, 2010)
    Half Marathon: 1:07:21 (Philly Distance Run, 2009)
    Marathon: 2:20:56 (Boston, 2010)

Former JMU athlete standout, now focusing on the marathon...

Originally from Forest, VA, Saunders attended Jefferson Forest High School where she achieved 7 individual state titles and 6 team championships. Following her high school career, Shannon attended James Madison University where she ran both cross country & track. She earned a Bachelors Degree in Psychology, after which she obtained a Masters Degree in Counseling. While at JMU Saunders was named Female Athlete of the Year in both 2004 & 2005. She holds the school record in the 10k and qualified for the NCAA National Championship in this event in 2004, 2005, & 2006. Also in 2004 & 2005, Saunders qualified for the NCAA National Championship in Cross Country.

Shannon is currently working as a counselor at Children, Youth, and Family Services in Charlottesville, Virginia.

PRs:
    3000m: 9:30
    5000m: 16:48
    10,000m: 33:54
    Marathon: 2:53