GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's cross country teams hosted the South Atlantic Conference Championship Preview meet on Saturday at Kinser Park.
Tusculum junior Nathan Buckeridge earned his third consecutive race win by capturing the men's 8-kilometer race in a time of 28:26.9, helping the Pioneers to a third-place finish in the team standings. The Tusculum women took seventh place, led by junior Jesica Mbhamali in 20th place at 28:32.60.
The Pioneers will compete in their final meet of the regular season on Friday, October 10 at the Maryville Invitational.
MEN'S RECAP
Buckeridge had no trouble conquering the hilly course at Kinser Park, winning by 34 seconds over runner-up Jaxson Branham of Lincoln Memorial. Buckeridge's three wins this season are tied for the third-most in a season by a Pioneer with Ross Lewis (2003), trailing only the six wins in 2010 and five victories in 2009 by Simon Holzapfel.
Freshman Harvey Anderson took fifth place in a time of 29:50.4, with freshman Albert Ziegler in 19th place at 31:50.7. Freshman Coen Morgan was 22nd overall in 32:07.9, and senior Jerry Ricker was the fifth scorer for the Pioneers in 29th place at 32:33.4.
Also running for Tusculum was junior Simon Ray, who was 32nd in 32:53.3, and freshman Casen Davis who was 43rd with a time of 34:01.0. A total of 62 runners finished the race.
Lincoln Memorial had six runners in the top 13 and won the men's team title with 40 points, followed by UVA Wise with 69 points and Tusculum in third with 72 points. Emory & Henry was fourth at 78 points, with the Tennessee Running Club in fifth at 115 points. Carson-Newman (166 points) and Mars Hill (175 points) rounded out the field.
WOMEN'S RECAP
Mbhamali was the top finisher in the 6-kilometer race for the Tusculum women, finishing with a time of 28:32.6. Freshman Hannah McLain was one spot behind Mbhamali in 21st place at 28:40.2, and freshman Abby Counter was 35th at 31:15.7.
Freshman Ruby Groves was 41st overall in 31:53.1, and freshman Skyler Shinn was the fifth finisher for Tusculum in 52nd overall at 34:48.8. Freshman Tristen Douthat was 56th place at 35:17.4, and senior Maya White Eagle was 65th in 43:24.1.
Lauren Rutlin of the Tennessee Running Club was the medalist with a time of 25:20.1, taking first place by nine seconds over Savannah Rivera of Roane State. Alexsis Porter of UVA Wise was third overall at 25:39.0.
Lincoln Memorial did not have a runner place higher than seventh overall, but had all five scorers in the top 20 and placed first with 57 points, just ahead of Carson-Newman at 63 points. UVA Wise took third at 80 points, trailed by Tennessee Running Club (98 points), Emory & Henry (114), Mars Hill (120) and Tusculum (151).
SAC Championship Preview
at Kinser Park
MEN
Tusculum results: 1. Nathan Buckeridge, 28:26.9; 5. Harvey Anderson, 29:50.4; 19. Albert Ziegler, 31:50.7; 22. Coen Morgan, 32:07.9; 29. Jerry Ricker, 32:33.4; 32. Simon Ray, 32:52.3; 43. Casen Davis, 34:01.0.
Team scores: 1. Lincoln Memorial 40; 2. UVA Wise 69; 3. Tusculum 72; 4. Emory & Henry 78; 5. Tennessee Running Club 115; 6. Carson-Newman 166; 7. Mars Hill 175.
Top 5 runners: 1. Nathan Buckeridge (Tusculum), 28:26.9; 2. Jaxson Branham (Lincoln Memorial), 29:00.5; 3. Jonah Adams (UVA Wise), 29:04.5; 4. Miles Baldwin (Emory & Henry), 29:37.1; 5. Harvey Anderson (Tusculum), 29:50.4.
WOMEN
Tusculum results: 20. Jesica Mbhamali, 28:32.6; 21. Hannah McLain, 28:40.2; 35. Abby Counter, 31:15.7; 41. Ruby Groves, 31:53.1; 52. Skyler Shinn, 34:48.8; 56. Tristen Douthat, 35:17.4; 65. Maya White Eagle, 43:24.1.
Team scores: 1. Lincoln Memorial 57; 2. Carson-Newman 63; 3. UVA Wise 80; 4. Tennessee Running Club 98; 5. Emory & Henry 114; 6. Mars Hill 120; 7. Tusculum 151.
Top 5 runners: 1. Lauren Rutlin (Tennessee Running Club), 25:20.1; 2. Savannah Rivera (Roane State), 25:29.2; 3. Alexsis Porter (UVA Wise), 25:39.0; 4. Jenna Pittman (Carson-Newman), 26:00.7; 5. Keirieonna Wilson (Carson-Newman), 26:06.7.
