GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum University hosted the South Atlantic Conference Men's and Women's Cross Country Championship Saturday morning at Kinser Park.
The Pioneer men placed seventh overall, led by third-team All-SAC runner Nathan Buckeridge in 16th place, while the Tusculum women took 10th place overall. Wingate's men and women held off strong challenges to each claim their fifth straight conference championship.
The Pioneers will compete at the NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championship at Wingate on Saturday, November 8.
MEN'S RECAP
Buckeridge ran in the top 20 all race long, sitting in 12th place after 2750 meters and in 13th after 5400 meters on the 8-kilometer course. The junior from Haywards Heath, England was the highest-finishing Tusculum runner at the SAC Championship since Kyler Hodges placed sixth overall in 2019.
Freshman Harvey Anderson was 33rd overall in 28:20.90, followed by freshman Albert Ziegler in 47th place at 29:09.78. Senior Jerry Ricker was 60th overall in 29:46.03, with junior Tomas Ribeiro the fifth scorer for the Pioneers in 64th place at 29:56.61. Junior Simon Ray was 69th in 30:18.85, and freshman Casen Davis took 70th place in the field of 100 finishers with a time of 30:21.04.
Samuel Gilson of Wingate won the men's individual title with a time of 26:12.31, finishing more than 14 seconds ahead of teammate David Holman. Wingate amassed 36 points as a team, just ahead of Anderson which had four finishers in the top eight and had 37 points. Catawba was third with 67 points, with Tusculum at 178 points to take seventh ahead of eighth-place Mars Hill (181 points).
WOMEN'S RECAP
Junior Jesica Mbhamali was the top finisher for the Pioneers, taking 40th with a time of 26:31.02. Freshman Hannah McLain was in 60th place at 27:43.47, followed by freshman Abby Counter in 72nd place at 29:25.45. Freshman Ruby Groves ran 29:33.28 and was 74th overall, and freshman Tristen Douthat took 86th place at 31:56.85. Freshman Skyler Shinn was 93rd overall at 33:03.81, and senior Maya White Eagle was 100th at 36:51.52.
Wingate had five runners in the top 10, including race winner Abigail Bester who ran 23:08.45 for the 6-kilometer race. Catawba had five runners in the top 12 and 38 points, with Anderson in third place at 98 points. Tusculum had 275 points as a team to finish in 10th place for the second straight season.
MEN'S RESULTS
Tusculum finishers: 16. Nathan Buckeridge, 27:20.00; 33. Harvey Anderson, 28:20.90; 47. Albert Ziegler, 29:09.78; 60. Jerry Ricker, 29:46.03; 64. Tomas Ribeiro, 29:56.61; 69. Simon Ray, 30:18.85; 70. Casen Davis, 30:21.04.
Team scores: 1. Wingate 36; 2. Anderson 37; 3. Catawba 67; 4. Lincoln Memorial 125; 5. UVA Wise, 163; 6. Emory & Henry, 168; 7. Tusculum 178; 8. Mars Hill, 181; 9. Newberry 299; 10. Carson-Newman 303; 11. Lenoir-Rhyne 330; 12. Coker 349.
Top 5 finishers: 1. Samuel Gilson (Wingate), 26:12.31; 2. David Holman (Wingate), 26:26.98; 3. Elliot Dotson (Anderson), 26:39.27; 4. Alexis Collomb (Wingate), 26:43.22; 5. Jaxson Branham (Lincoln Memorial), 26:43.34.
All-SAC First Team
Samuel Gilson, Wingate
David Holman, Wingate
Elliot Dotson, Anderson
Alexis Collomb, Wingate
Jaxson Branham, Lincoln Memorial
Spain Vaughan, Anderson
William Cronin, Anderson
All-SAC Second Team
Grayson Gibbons, Anderson
Will Lyons, Catawba
James Shue, Catawba
Thomas Bentley, Wingate
Ian Pierce, Catawba
Joey Tindale, Anderson
Seth Caudill, Catawba
All-SAC Third Team
Angel Galan, Anderson
Nathan Buckeridge, Tusculum
Miles Baldwin, Emory & Henry
Alejandro Berrio, Wingate
Oskar Enseling, Wingate
Charlie, Stephenson, Wingate
Jonah Adams, UVA Wise
SAC All-Freshman Team
Grayson Gibbons, Anderson
Seth Begley, Catawba
Charlie Kyberd, Wingate
Julio Espinoza, Wingate
Dylan Colander, UVA Wise
SAC Men's Runner of the Year: Samuel Gilson, Wingate
SAC Men's Freshman Runner of the Year: Grayson Gibbons, Anderson
SAC Men's Coach of the Year: Kevin Eagle, Anderson
SAC Wealth Enhancement Group Elite 23 Award: Chad Douglas, UVA Wise
WOMEN'S RESULTS
Tusculum finishers: 40. Jesica Mbhamali, 26:31.02; 60. Hannah McLain, 27:43.47; 72. Abby Counter, 29:25.45; 74. Ruby Groves, 29:33.28; 86. Tristen Douthat, 31:56.85; 93. Skyler Shinn, 33:03.81; 100. Maya White Eagle, 36:51.52.
Team scores: 1. Wingate 25; 2. Catawba 38; 3. Anderson 98; 4. Lincoln Memorial 126; 5. Carson-Newman 149; 6. Lenoir-Rhyne 179; 7. Mars Hill 194; 8. Emory & Henry 235; 9. UVA Wise 241; 10. Tusculum 275; 11. Newberry 304; 12. Coker 325.
Top 5 finishers: 1. Abigail Bester (Wingate), 23:08.45; 2. Kiara Bester (Wingate), 23:10.55; 3. Hannah Caudill (Catawba), 23:16.13; 4. Kennedy Roush (Anderson), 23:19.84; 5. Firdaouss Hriche (Wingate), 23:28.07.
All-SAC First Team
Abigail Bester, Wingate
Kiara Bester, Wingate
Hannah Caudill, Catawba
Kennedy Roush, Anderson
Firsaouss Hriche, Wingate
Natalie Almond, Catawba
Sira Bo, Wingate
All-SAC Second Team
Madison Clay, Catawba
Morgan Pollard, Catawba
Riya Keshaw, Wingate
Emma Whitaker, Anderson
Eden Barnwell, Catawba
Keirieonna Wilson, Carson-Newman
Weslyn McIntosh, Lincoln Memorial
All-SAC Third Team
Jenna Pittman, Carson-Newman
Sophie Ratcliff, Mars Hill
Lydia Slemp, UVA Wise
Sara Carrato, Wingate
Hope Edmunds, Anderson
Joanna Owczarz, Catawba
Baia Touza, Wingate
SAC All-Freshman Team
Abigail Bester, Wingate
Kiara Bester, Wingate
Morgan Pollard, Catawba
Sophie Ratcliff, Mars Hill
Sara Carrato, Wingate
SAC Women's Runner of the Year: Abigail Bester, Wingate
SAC Women's Freshman Runner of the Year: Abigail Bester, Wingate
SAC Women's Coach of the Year: Jason Bryan, Catawba
SAC Wealth Enhancement Group Elite 23 Award: Jenna Pittman, Carson-Newman
