GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum cross country runners Nathan Buckeridge and Jesica Mbhamali have been named the Zaxby's Athletes of the Week.
Buckeridge, a junior from Haywards Heath, England, captured the individual title at the Roane State Invitational last Friday. He won the eight-kilometer race with his time of 26:12, winning by 91 seconds over his closest competitor. His performance paced the Pioneers to the team title as TU finished with 25 points. He became the first TU male runner to claim an individual title since Pau Valdepenas in 2023.
Mbhamali, a junior from Johannesburg, South Africa, crossed the finish line in 19:24 as she claimed fourth-place honors on the five-kilometer trek. She was one of only four runners to break the 20-minute barrier on the course. Her effort led Tusculum to a runner-up finish at the Roane State Invitational as the Pioneers accounted for 88 points in the team competition.
The Tusculum University Athlete of the Week Award is sponsored by Zaxby's, located at 3280 Andrew Johnson Highway in Greeneville. The Zaxby's Athlete of the Week Award honors one male and one female athlete each week from an in-season sport.
2025-26 Zaxby's Athletes of the Week
|
Date |
Male Athlete of the Week |
Female Athlete of the Week |
|
Sep. 8 |
Lex Dinwiddie, Football |
Sydney Grant, Soccer |
|
Sep. 15 |
Nathan Buckeridge, Cross Country |
Jesica Mbhamali, Cross Country |
