GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Tusculum University will be the host of the South Atlantic Conference Men’s and Women’s Cross Country Championship meet, which will be held Saturday, Oct. 25 at Kinser Park.
The men’s 8-kilometer race will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, followed by the women’s 6-kilometer race at 10:15 a.m. A total of 12 schools will compete in the meet, which has been swept by Wingate each of the last four years.
MEN’S PREVIEW
After finishing 11th at the SAC Championship last season, the Pioneers earned two victories and a third-place finish in their four meets this fall. Tusculum has been recognized by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association by being ranked in each of their last four regional polls, starting in eighth before slotting in at 10th for the last three weeks.
Junior Nathan Buckeridge (Haywards Heath, England) has finished in the top two in three of his four races this fall, including wins at the Brevard XC Classic on Sept. 19 and the SAC Preview meet at Kinser Park on Sept. 27. Buckeridge also had a second-place finish at the Roane State Invite on Sept. 12 and was 16th overall at the Royals Cross Country Challnege on Oct. 10.
Freshman Harvey Anderson (Beaconsfield, Australia) had a fifth-place finish at the SAC Preview and was 44th overall at the Royals Challenge in his two meets, while junior Tomas Ribeiro (Colares, Portugal) took fourth at Roane State, fifth at Brevard and 47th at the Royals Challenge.
Freshman Albert Ziegler (Sollentuna, Sweden) had a second-place showing at Brevard and fifth at Roane State, while placing 19th at the SAC Preview. Freshman Coen Morgan (Chisholm, Australia) placed in the top 25 in all three of his meets this fall, with a best time of 28:19.8 at Brevard.
Senior Jerry Ricker (Kingsport, Tennessee) ran in all four events this fall, with a best finish of 15th at Roane State and a career-best time of 27:05.7 at the Royals Challenge. Junior Simon Ray (Greeneville, Tenn.) also had a career-best showing at the Royals Challenge at 27:25.4, and posted a ninth-place result at Roane State.
Sophomore Levi Carson (Hammond, La.) was 10th overall at Roane State for his best finish of the season, while freshman Casen Davis (Johnson City, Tenn.) took 13th overall at Roane State and ran 28:12.8 at the Royals Challenge.
WOMEN’S PREVIEW
The Pioneers were 10th overall at last year’s SAC Championship, and will bring a brand-new squad to this year’s meet that includes five freshmen among the seven runners on the roster.
Junior Jesica Mbhamali (Johannesburg, South Africa) has been the top finisher in each of the Pioneers’ four meets. She was fourth at the Roane State Invite on Sept. 12, took 10th at the Brevard Cross Country Classic on Sept. 19, finished 20th at the SAC Preview on Sept. 27, and was eighth overall at the Maryville Invitational on Oct. 10 with a season-best time in the 6K of 25:14.
Freshman Hannah McLain (Limestone, Tenn.) had a season-best finish of 16th at Maryville and finished in the top 30 in all three of her meets. Freshman Abby Counter (Richmond, Texas) placed 19th at Roane State and was 26th overall at the Maryville Invitational.
Freshman Tristen Douthat (Greeneville, Tenn.) competed in all four meets for the Pioneers, taking 23rd at Roane State and 34th at Maryville for her best finishes of the season. Freshman Ruby Groves (Spring Hill, Tenn.) finished 15th at Roane State and placed 41st overall at the SAC Preview.
Freshman Skyler Shinn (Chattanooga, Tenn.) took 26th overall at Roane State and 37th at Maryville, with senior Maya White Eagle (Baraboo, Wisc.) competing in three meets for the Pioneers with a top finish of 60th at Maryville.
MEET INFORMATION
The meet is being held at Kinser Park, located at 780 Kinser Park Lane in Greene County. Admission is free. Additional meet information can be found at https://thesac.com/championships/cross_country/index.
