GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's cross country team opened its 2021 season with a second-place finish at the Tusculum Open Friday evening on the Holston Home Cross Country Course.

Senior Alex Perez finished in fourth place and junior Caleb Archer took sixth for the Pioneers, who accumulated 48 team points to finish second to Lincoln Memorial. The Railsplitters had all five of its scorers place inside the top 10 to finish with 27 points, while Carson-Newman was third with 72 points. Milligan took fourth at 74 points, and Walters State was fifth with 144 points.

Perez ran 16:25.7 over the 5-kilometer course to finish behind race winner Roberto Fajardo of Lincoln Memorial, Raymond Brugmans of Carson-Newman and Mason Johns of Lincoln Memorial. Archer's time of 16:42.2 was good for sixth place in the field of 35 runners.

Freshman Irving Medina was 11th overall at 17:06.9, followed in 12th by junior Carson Walls at 17:08.1. Freshman Graham Aitken was 15th in 17:16.2, with freshman Evan Bruce taking 18th place at 17:27.8 and sophomore Antonio Aparicio in 20th at 17:43.6.

The Tusculum women did not compete in the women's event, which saw Lincoln Memorial finish first with 22 points, Carson-Newman in second with 36 points and Walters State third with 78 points. Brooke Foster ran 19:59.5 over the 5K to beat teammate Amelia Lorrey by six seconds for the victory.

The Pioneers will travel to Walters State for their Invite on Friday, Sept. 10.

Tusculum Open
at Holston Home, Greeneville, Tenn.
MEN: 1. Lincoln Memorial 27, 2. Tusculum 48; 3. Carson-Newman 72; 4. Milligan 74; 5. Walters State 144.
WOMEN: 1. Lincoln Memorial 22; 2. Carson-Newman 36; 3. Walters State 78.