MORRISTOWN, Tenn. --- Tusculum College rookie David Cooper finished 21st at the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Cross Country Championship, held Saturday morning at Panther Creek State Park. The Tusculum men and women's team each finished 10th in the team competition, while Cooper earned a spot on the SAC All-Freshman squad.

Mars Hill claimed its 15th-consecutive men's championship as the Lions finished with 46 points, edging runner-up Anderson by just two points (48). Wingate came in third place with 98 points, followed by Lenoir-Rhyne (101), Brevard (142), Lincoln Memorial (176), Newberry (197), Catawba (204), Carson-Newman (230) and Tusculum (249).

Anderson repeated as women's champions as the Trojans posted 60 points, three points better than second place Lenoir-Rhyne (63). Wingate was third with 74 points, followed by Carson-Newman (119), Mars Hill (125), Lincoln Memorial (129), Brevard (1620, Newberry (217), Catawba (243) and Tusculum (288).

Kate Griewisch of Lenoir-Rhyne won the women's meet with a time of 18:09, while Mars Hill's Justin Gregg captured the men's individual title in 26:31.2.

Cooper posted a time of 27:44.8 in the 8,000-meter men's race, while teammate Kekona Soon posted a time of 31;07.9 to finish 64th. Zachary Simpson finished 72nd with his time of 32:53.2, while Elvis Machado came in 74th place at 33:30.9. Elijah Minter (33:52) and George Blalock (34:07.8) finished 75th and 76th, respectively to round out the Tusculum scoring.

In the women's 5K event, junior Jenny Grant was Tusculum's top runner as she recorded a time of 23:42.1 for 54th place. Lakesa Hendrix came in 66th place at 24:33.7, while Kim Brown finished 70th with her time of 24:51.8. Ashley Gregg (71st - 25:13.2), Ashley Andrukonis (77th - 26:39.9) and Carol Hogan (80th - 28:37.9) wrapped up the scoring for the Pioneers.

The NCAA Division II Southeast Region Championship will be held on Nov. 5 in Charlotte, N.C.

- SAC -

SAC Men's Championship Results (8K)
Pl. Team Pts.
1 Mars Hill 46
2 Anderson 48
3 Wingate 98
4 Lenoir-Rhyne 101
5 Brevard 142
6 Lincoln Memorial 176
7 Newberry 197
8 Catawba 204
9 Carson-Newman 230
10 TUSCULUM 249

Tusculum Individual Results (Men)
Pl. Runner Time
21 David Cooper 27:44.8
64 Kekona Soon 31:07.9
72 Zachary Simpson 32:53.2
74 Elvis Machado 33:30.9
75 Elijah Minter 33:52.0
76 George Blalock 34:07.8

SAC Women's Championship Results (5K)
Pl. Team Pts.
1 Anderson 60
2 Lenoir-Rhyne 63
3 Wingate 74
4 Carson-Newman 119
5 Mars Hill 125
6 Lincoln Memorial 129
7 Brevard 162
8 Newberry 217
9 Catawba 243
10 TUSCULUM 288

Tusculum Individual Results (Women)
Pl. Runner Time
54 Jenny Grant 23:42.1
66 Lakesa Hendrix 24:33.7
70 Kim Brown 24:51.8
71 Ashley Gregg 25:13.2
77 Ashley Andrukonis 26:39.9
80 Carol Hogan 28:37.9