ROCK HILL, S.C. --- The South Atlantic Conference has announced its preseason coaches polls for men's and women's cross country and Runners to Watch for the 2025 season.
Tusculum University is represented in athletes to watch by junior Nathan Buckeridge and freshmen Harvey Anderson and Albert Ziegler for the men, along with junior Jesica Mbhamali and freshmen Abby Counter and Hannah McLain for the women.
The Pioneers were picked 10th in the women's preseason poll, while the Tusculum men were selected 11th overall. Tusculum will host the SAC Cross Country Championship on Saturday, Oct. 25 at Kinser Park.
Buckeridge (Haywards Heath, England) competed two years at Texas Wesleyan University before coming to Tusculum, while both Anderson (Beaconsfield, Australia) and Ziegler (Sollentuna, Sweden) are making their collegiate debuts.
Mbhamali (Johannesburg, South Africa) ran two years at Butler Community College in Kansas, placing 44th at last year's NJCAA Division I Championship. Both Counter (Richmond, Texas) and McLain (Limestone, Tenn.) were record-setting middle distance runners in high school.
Wingate, the reigning SAC men's and women's cross country champions, were picked atop the preseason polls with Catawba, Lincoln Memorial, Anderson and Lenoir-Rhyne joining them in the top five for each gender.
Tusculum will open its fall season on Friday, Sept. 12 at the Roane State Invitational. The Pioneers will host a Conference Preview meet at Kinser Park on Saturday, Sept. 27.
2025 SAC Men's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
|
Rank |
School (First-Place Votes) |
Pts. |
|
1. |
Wingate (11) |
110 |
|
2. |
Anderson (1) |
97 |
|
3. |
Catawba |
91 |
|
4. |
Lincoln Memorial |
80 |
|
5. |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
67 |
|
6. |
Emory & Henry |
62 |
|
7. |
Carson-Newman |
46 |
|
7. |
Mars Hill |
46 |
|
9. |
UVA Wise |
25 |
|
10. |
Newberry |
19 |
|
11. |
Tusculum |
17 |
|
12. |
Coker |
12 |
2025 SAC Men's Cross Country Runners to Watch
Anderson: Spain Vaughan, Will Cronin
Carson-Newman: Andrew Thompson, Bryson Burkett, Jase McCloskey
Catawba: Seth Caudill, Will Lyons
Coker: Jake Popowski, Cody Stewart
Emory & Henry: Miles Baldwin, Sam Tindall, Davis Norman
Lincoln Memorial: Simon Filler, Jaxson Branham, Lance Vaster
Lenoir-Rhyne: Holden Hamlin, Chase Bryan
Mars Hill: Matthew O'Connor, Eli Taylor, Sean Sanchez, Brandon McNulty
Newberry : Tyler Shumate, Drew Benson
Tusculum : Harvey Anderson, Nathan Buckeridge, Albert Ziegler
UVA Wise: Jonah Adams, Dorian Almer, Chad Douglas
Wingate: Antonin Saint-Peyre, Luca Poppe, Lars Laros, Joaquin Campos
2025 SAC Women's Cross Country Preseason Coaches Poll
|
Rank |
School (First-Place Votes) |
Pts. |
|
1. |
Wingate (11) |
110 |
|
2. |
Catawba (1) |
98 |
|
3. |
Anderson |
86 |
|
3. |
Lincoln Memorial |
86 |
|
5. |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
67 |
|
6. |
Carson-Newman |
58 |
|
7. |
Emory & Henry |
47 |
|
8. |
Mars Hill |
44 |
|
9. |
UVA Wise |
30 |
|
10. |
Tusculum |
18 |
|
11. |
Newberry |
16 |
|
12. |
Coker |
12 |
2025 SAC Women's Cross Country Runners to Watch
Anderson: Kennedy Roush, Emma Whitaker, Natalie States
Carson-Newman: Jenna Pittman, Emma Roberts, Peyton Couch
Catawba: Madi Clay, Hannah Caudill
Coker: Amelia Artz, Aleeya Moes
Emory & Henry: Elise McKinney, Madison Fiscus, McKenzie Tate
Lincoln Memorial: Jacie Begley, Reaghan Curde, Natalia Iker
Lenoir-Rhyne: Regly Jemutai, Maria Carmona, Caitlyn Christie
Mars Hill: Sophie Ratcliff, Grace Adams, Mary Malcolm, Natalee Powers
Newberry: Kwamia Russell, Olivia Hare
Tusculum: Abby Counter, Jesica Mbhamali, Hannah McLain
UVA Wise: Alexsis Porter, Lydia Slemp, Destyne Rutherford
Wingate: Sira Bo, Evie Brooks, Ona Alonso, Firdaouss Hriche
