Pioneers compete at Queens XC Challenge

CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- The Tusculum men's and women's cross country teams competed at the Queens Cross Country Challenge Friday afternoon, held at McAlpine Creek Park. The Tusculum men finished 16th out of 22 teams with 472 points, while the Pioneer women also finished 16th out of 25 teams with 502 points.

Tusculum will return to action next Saturday morning at the Koala Classic, which will be held in Columbia, South Carolina and hosted by Columbia College.

MEN'S RECAP
Freshman Jackson Beason was the top finisher for the Pioneers, placing 47th overall with a time of 26:10 over the 8-kilometer course. Fellow freshman Will Cronin was 103rd overall in 27:25, while freshman Mason Snelson took 117th place with a time of 27:51. Junior J'Quen Johnson was the Pioneers' fourth finisher in 137th place at 28:32, and freshman Alex Haffcke rounded out the scoring for the Pioneers with a 158th-place finish in 29:45. 

Also competing for the Pioneers was junior Will Noel, who was clocked in 30:33 and finished 164th overall, and freshman Isaac Hybarger who claimed 176th place overall with a time of 32:11. 

The host Royals won the team championship by placing four players in the top 10 and earning 37 points, followed by Lee with 59 points and Alabama-Huntsville with 104 points. Ronald Cheserek of Saint Leo was the individual champion with a time of 23:48, two seconds ahead of runner-up Christian Noble of Lee.

WOMEN'S RECAP
The top finisher for the Pioneers was sophomore Alissa Furches, who was clocked at 19:47 over the 5-kilometer course and finished in 80th place. Freshman Addison Aguilar took 86th place with a time of 19:55, followed by sophomore Makenzi Alley in 138th place in 21:00. Junior Mackenzie Newsome was 155th overall with a time of 21:28, and freshman Carrigan Bishop was Tusculum's fifth scorer as she crossed the line in 162nd place with a time of 21:42.

Also competing for the Pioneers were sophomore Brooklyn Smith, who was 166th place with a time of 21:48, and junior Deondra Thomas was 186th overall with a time of 22:57. Freshman Hayden Fobare finished with a time of 23:46 for 193rd place and freshman Angel Quay was 198th in 24:09.

Lee University put three runners in the top 10 and won the team title with 52 points, followed by the host Royals (61) and Saint Leo (96). Colett Rampf of Saint Leo won the individual champinship with a time of 17:05, finishing two seconds ahead of Emily Kearney of SCAD Atlanta and six seconds better than Hannah Wolkenhauer of Queens.