GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's cross country teams ran Friday in their final competition ahead of the South Atlantic Conference Championship later this month.
The Tusculum men placed 11th at the Royals Cross County Challenge and the Pioneer women were third at the Maryville Invitational, and will now turn their attention toward the SAC Championship which will be held Saturday, Oct. 25 at Kinser Park in Greeneville.
MEN'S RECAP
Tusculum's men competed at the Royals Cross Country Challenge and finished 11th in a field of 19 Division I and II teams with 267 points.
The Pioneers were led by junior Nathan Buckeridge who took 16th overall in the field of 175 finishers with a time of 25:01.52 for the 8-kilometer course. Freshman Harvey Anderson finished 44th in 25:43.37, with junior Tomas Ribeiro in 47th place at 25:45.36. Freshman Albert Ziegler was 92nd overall in a time of 26:36.79.
Senior Jerry Ricker was 112th place with a time of 27:05.70, followed by junior Simon Ray in 123rd place at 27:25.39. Freshman Casen Davis finished 143rd overall at 28:12.73, and sophomore Levi Carson ran 29:29.43 and was 157th overall.
Charlotte had four runners among the top 10 scorers and won the team title with 42 points, with Catawba in second at 66 points and Augusta third at 99 points. Unattached runner Avery Jaynes was the race winner with a time of 24:12.79, beating Brian Kiprop of Fayetteville State by exactly 2.5 seconds.
WOMEN'S RECAP
The Tusculum women ran a 6-kilometer meet at Maryville and finished third overall, with all five scoring runners placing inside the top 40.
Junior Jesica Mbhamali was the top finisher for the Pioneers, taking eighth place with a time of 25:14. Freshman Hannah McLain was 16th overall in 26:00, followed by freshman Abby Counter in 26th place at 27:28.
Freshman Tristen Douthat was 34th overall in 28:38, and freshman Skyler Shinn took 37th place at 28:57. Freshman Ruby Groves placed 49th with a time of 30:21, and senior Maya White Eagle crossed the line 60th overall at 34:28.
The Tennessee Running Club had four of the top five finishers and won the team title with 24 points, followed by Asbury in second with 47 points and the Pioneers in third with 94 points, just ahead of fourth-place Maryville with 95 points. Oliwia Wawrzyniak of TRC ran 20:22 and beat Bailey Gassman of Asbury by more than three minutes to take the individual win.
Royals Cross Country Challenge
Tusculum men's results
16. Nathan Buckeridge, 25:01.52; 44. Harvey Anderson, 25:43.37; 47. Tomas Ribeiro, 25:45.36; 92. Albert Ziegler, 26:36.79; 112. Jerry Ricker, 27:05.70; 123. Simon Ray, 27:25.39; 143. Casen Davis, 28:12.73; 157. Levi Carson, 29:29.43.
Team scores: 1. Charlotte 42; 2. Catawba 66; 3. Augusta 99; 4. Fayetteville State 130; 5. Wingate 156; 11. Tusculum 267.
Maryville Invitational
Tusculum women's results
8. Jesica Mbhamali, 25:14; 16. Hannah McLain, 26:00; 26. Abby Counter, 27:28; 34. Tristen Douthat, 28:38; 37. Skyler Shinn, 28:57; 49. Ruby Groves, 30:21; 60. Maya White Eagle, 34:28.
Team results: 1. Tennessee Running Club 24; 2. Asbury 47; 3. Tusculum 94; 4. Maryville 95; 5. Pellissippi State 128; 6. Johnson 166; 7. Union Commonwealth 174.
