MILLEDGEVILLE, Ga. --- Tusculum University's Nicole McMillen set a course record en route to the victory in the women's race at the Bobcat Cross Country Invitational, hosted Saturday morning by Georgia College.
McMillen covered the six-kilometer course in 20:54.6 to shatter the previous race record of 21:43. The win was the third in four races for McMillen this season and helped the Pioneers to a third-place finish out of 14 teams.
In the men's race, Taylor Tupps finished second overall and Kyler Hodges was fourth as the Pioneers placed third in the field of 13 teams with 79 points.
The Pioneers will compete at the South Atlantic Conference Cross Country Championships on Saturday, October 26 on the campus of Wingate University.
WOMEN'S RECAP
McMillen earned the sixth top-five finish in seven career events and beat runner-up Tanzanie Brown of Columbus State by more than a minute and a half, as Brown took second place in 22:30.5. McMillen's time of 20:54.6 translated to a 5:36.5 mile and gave her three first-place finishes and a runner-up performance in four meets this season.
Alissa Furches was 19th overall in 23:44.7, and Gabrielle Beckett took 24th overall in 24:28.1 for the Pioneers. Emmi Hulse was 28th overall in 24:50.9, and Erin Bruce was the Pioneers' fifth finisher in 25.13.7, good for 32nd place. Brooklyn Smith was the final Tusculum finisher as she crossed in 27:27.4 for 55th place out of 105 finishers.
North Georgia had five runners in the top 10 and won the team title with 32 points, followed by Columbus State with 66 points and Tusculum in third with 79.
MEN'S RECAP
Tupps matched his best career finish by clocking in at 25:22.0 over the eight-kilometer course, placing second behind race winner Solomon Komen of West Georgia who ran 25:07.2. Hodges had his third top-10 finish of the year and was fourth overall in 25:48.0, while Alex Perez finished in 15th place and set a career best with a time of 26:48.7.
Carson Walls was 17th overall and also established a new career-best time of 26:57.0, as did Antonio Aparicio who was in 20th place at 27:12.9 and was the Pioneers' fifth scorer. Also running for the Pioneers were Kyle Stanley, who took 26th place in 27:43.6, Max Blevins who ran 29:21.5 and was 44th overall, and Isaac Hybarger who finished 54th in the field of 93 competitors with a time of 30:29.7.
North Georgia finished a sweep of the team titles by putting three runners in the top 10 and earning 37 points. Georgia College edged out Tusculum for second with four runners in the top 10 and 57 points, while the Pioneers had 58 points and West Georgia finished fourth with 75 points.
Bobcat Cross Country Invitational
at Milledgeville, Georgia
WOMEN'S RESULTS
Tusculum finishers: 1. Nicole McMillen, 20:54.6; 19. Alissa Furches, 23:44.7; 24. Gabrielle Beckett, 24:28.1; 28. Emmi Hulse, 24:50.9; 32. Erin Bruce, 25:13.7; 55. Brooklyn Smith, 27:27.4.
Team finishers (top 5): 1. North Georgia, 32; 2. Columbus State, 66; 3. Tusculum, 79; 4. Georgia College, 87; 5. Clayton State, 163.
MEN'S RESULTS
Tusculum finishers: 2. Taylor Tupps, 25:30.2; 4. Kyler Hodges, 25:48.0; 15. Alex Perez, 26:48.7; 17. Carson Walls, 26:57.9; 20. Antonio Aparicio, 26:57.9; 26. Kyle Stanley, 27:43.6; 44. Max Blevins, 29:21.5; 54. Isaac Hybarger, 30:29.7.
Team finishers (top 5): 1. Columbus State, 37; 2. Georgia College, 57; 3. Tusculum, 58; 4. West Georgia, 75; 5. Clayton State, 143.
