SPARTANBURG, S.C. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's cross country teams opened the 2022 season on Friday by competing in the 37th annual Eye Opener at the Roger Milliken Center, hosted by the University of South Carolina Upstate.
The Pioneer men finished 11th out of 14 teams, while the Tusculum women had just four competitors and did not qualify for a team score.
Tusculum will return to action on Saturday, September 10 at the Walters State Invitational in Morristown.
MEN'S RECAP
Tusculum accumulated 323 points to finish 11th out of 14 teams in the field, which included five Division I programs and five Division II teams.
Senior Antonio Aparicio was the Pioneers' top finisher, placing 58th overall with a time of 29:22.6 over the 8-kilometer course. Sophomore Bryson Livesay finished just after Aparicio in 59th place at 29:22.9, with sophomore Evan Bruce taking 83rd overall in 31:22.0.
Freshman Ethyn Council finished 89th overall in 31:41.7, and freshman DeWayne Morris was the Pioneers' fifth scorer as he took 98th place in 32:26.62. Freshman Jerry Ricker was 107th place at 34:49.7, and sophomore Xavion Bogus was in 115th place at 40:35.0.
Furman and ETSU combined to have eight of the top 10 finishers, but the Paladins won the meet with 29 points with the Bucs in second at 40 points and host USC Upstate in third at 95 points. Drew Topoly of Methodist was the meet winner, covering the course in 24:56.9 to beat runner-up Foster Wilfong of Furman by 7 1/2 seconds.
WOMEN'S RECAP
With only four athletes finishing, the Pioneers were unable to place in the team standings. Junior Judy Chellah was the top finisher for Tusculum, placing 52nd in the 5-kilometer race in 22:01.7.
Junior Emily Coddington was right behind Chellah in 53rd place at 22:02.2, with senior Destiny Lottie in 86th place at 31:09.3 and senior Aliyah Adderley taking 88th place at 33:48.9.
Furman swept the top seven places in the team standings and finished with a perfect score of 15, well ahead of Wofford (83) and ETSU (100). Abigail Robertson of Furman was the individual winner as she ran 17:49.7 to beat teammate Emily Little by three seconds flat.
Eye Opener
at Spartanburg, S.C.
TUSCULUM RESULTS
Men: 58. Antonio Aparicio, 29:22.6; 59. Bryson Livesay, 29:22.9; 83. Evan Bruce, 31:22.0; 89. Ethyn Council, 31:41.7; 98. DeWayne Morris, 32:26.62; 107. Jerry Ricker, 34:49.7; 115. Xavion Bogus, 40:35.0.
Women: 52. Judy Chellah, 22:01.7; 53. Emily Coddington, 22:02.7; 86. Destiny Lottie, 31:09.3; 88. Aliyah Adderley, 33:48.9.
TEAM SCORES
Men: 1. Furman 29; 2. ETSU 40; 3. USC Upstate 95; 4. UNC Pembroke 136; 5. Wofford 182; 6. Converse 189; 7. Brevard 222; 8. Methodist 229; 9. Young Harris 238; 10. King 246; 11. Tusculum 323; 12. Presbyterian 329; 13. Walters State 371; 14. Warren Wilson 374.
Women: 1. Furman 15; 2. Wofford 83; 3. ETSU 100; 4. Converse 104; 5. King 124; 6. UNC Pembroke 155; 7. Presbyterian 189; 8. USC Upstate 197; 9. Young Harris 272; 10. Walters State 296; 11. Warren Wilson 305; 12. Brevard 317; Tusculum NTS; Methodist NTS.
