SALISBURY, N.C. --- The Tusculum College men's cross country team finished second overall at Friday's season-opening Catawba Invitational, while the women's squad finished sixth. Senior David Cooper was the top finisher on the men's side with a fourth place finish, while sophomore Samantha Vogt claimed third place individual honors on the women's side.

The event was contested at the Salisbury Community Park, which will be the site of the 2014 South Atlantic Conference Championships in November.

Cooper, a native of Greeneville, Tennessee, posted a time of 28:14 in the 8,000-meter event to open the 2014 campaign with a top-five finish. Freshman Caleb Cutshall finished 11th in his collegiate debut with a time of 30:16. Fellow freshman Jacob Cutshall also made his Tusculum debut and brought home a 14th place finish with a time of 30:40.

Senior Zachary Simpson was just steps behind Jacob Cutshall in 15th after running the 8k course in 30:59. Junior Lawson Burrow crossed the line in 20th (32:03), and sophomore Cory Ramsey finished in 25th (33:08). Freshman Gray Deanda posted a 33:37 in his collegiate debut to claim 27th place honors.

On the women's side, Vogt posted her best career finish with a time of 20:50 on the 5,000-meter course. Junior Paige Bible recorded a time of 25:07 to claim 42nd place, while senior Ashley Gregg came in 44th with a time of 25:13. Junior Allison Hall finished the course in 26:13 for 54th place honors, and freshman Alexis Berlin recorded a time of 27:38 in her collegiate debut to finish 63rd.

The Pioneers will return to the course on Saturday, Sept. 13 in Montreat, North Carolina at the Hyder-McMahill Invitational.