GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Tusculum College head cross country coach Cory Pratt has announced the signing of Mackenzie, Newsome of Lewisville, North Carolina as a member of the Pioneers women's cross country team's 2015 signing class.

Newsome will wear the orange and black after earning 12 letters between cross country, indoor track and outdoor track at West Forsyth High School under the direction of her coach and father Nathan Newsome. As a three-year team captain, she earned cross country All-Conference honors as a junior and was a two-time All-Conference outdoor track honoree.

Newsome was on the Titans' 4x800 relay squad that were national qualifiers during the indoor season and later won the conference and regional championships during the outdoor campaign. Her relay team also owns the school record in the 4x800, 4x400 and the distance medley.

Newsome recorded personal best times of 19:55 in the 5,000 meter, 12:08 in the 3,200 meter, 5:36 in the 1,600 meter, 3:12.8 in the 1,000 meter, and 2:29 in the 800 meter. She was a key contributor to West Forsyth qualifying for the 4A state cross country championships in all four years that she competed.

"Mackenzie brings a lot of talent and toughness to our team," said Pratt. "Being the daughter of a coach, she is very knowledgeable while running competitively. I expect her to contribute and provide leadership this upcoming season."

Newsome joins Lindsey Mank of Smithton, Illinois as 2015 freshman for the Pioneer harriers.

Tusculum is scheduled to compete in five regular season meets this season beginning on September 4th at the Catawba/Chick-Fil-A Invitational in Salisbury, North Carolina. The South Atlantic Conference Championship will take place on October 24th in Ewing, Virginia while the NCAA II Southeast Regional will be held in Wingate, North Carolina on November 7th.