SPARTANBURG, S.C. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's cross country teams competed at the Converse Kick-Off Meet Saturday morning at the Millikin Research Park. The course will be the site of the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional meet on Nov. 6.
The Tusculum women finished 11th out of 22 teams with 321 points in their first competition of the season, while the Pioneer men took 14th out of 25 schools in their 8-kilometer race with a total of 375 points.
The Pioneers will return to action on Friday, Sept. 24 at the Queen City Invite in Charlotte, North Carolina.
WOMEN'S RECAP
Sophomore Emily Coddington was the top finisher for the Pioneers, crossing the line in 43rd place with a time of 24:10.5 across the 6-kilometer course. Grad student Javiera Ortiz, competing in her first collegiate race, was 71st overall in 25:14.5, followed by sophomore Judy Chellah in 74th place at 25:27.8.
Junior Erin Bruce claimed 89th place by running 25:56.0, and freshman Celine McNally was the final scorer for Tusculum in 103rd place at 26:22.4. A total of 206 runners competed in the event.
Lenoir-Rhyne had three runners in the top 10 and won the team event with 53 points, followed by Emory (61 points) and Anderson (79). Lara Orrock of Wingate was the individual race winner with a time of 21:43.3, nine seconds ahead of runner-up Annika Urban of Emory.
MEN'S RECAP
Senior Alex Perez was the top Tusculum finisher for the second straight meet, placing 20th in a field of 272 runners with a time of 26:27.4. Junior Caleb Archer finished 82nd in 28:14.9, followed by freshman Bryson Livesay who ran 28:48.2 for a 108th-place finish.
Tusculum's final two scorers were freshman Gideon Dowling, who crossed the line 122nd overall in 29:00.1, while freshman Graham Aitken was 141st in 29:20.0. Junior Antonio Aparicio finished 145th overall in 29:22.3, and senior Carson Walls took 152nd place in 29:37.7. The final Tusculum finisher was freshman Evan Bruce, who ran 30:18.3 and was 187th overall.
Emory won the team title with 67 points despite its highest finisher placing ninth, as the Eagles had its top five finishers inside the top 20. Wingate was second with 71 points, with third to Anderson with 105 points. UNC Pembroke standout Joshua Chepkesir won the individual title with a time of 25:02.9 that beat runner-up Cas Kopmels of Mount Olive by just under seven seconds.
Converse Kick-Off
at Spartanburg, S.C.
WOMEN
Team results: 1. Lenoir-Rhyne, 53; 2. Emory, 61; 3. Anderson, 79; 4. Wingate, 138; 5. UNC Pembroke, 148; 11. Tusculum, 321.
Tusculum finishers: 43. Emily Coddington, 24:10.5; 71. Javiera Ortiz, 25:14.5; 74. Judy Chellah, 25:27.8; 89. Erin Bruce, 25:56.0; 103. Celine McNally, 26:22.4.
MEN
Team results: 1. Emory, 67; 2. Wingate, 71; 3. Anderson, 105; 4. Catawba, 161; 5. Emmanuel, 191; 14. Tusculum, 376.
Tusculum finishers: 20. Alex Perez, 26:27.4; 82. Caleb Archer, 28:14.9; 108. Bryson Livesay, 28:48.2; 122. Gideon Dowling, 29:00.1; 141. Graham Aitken, 29:20.0; 145. Antonio Aparicio, 29:22.3; 152. Carson Walls, 29:37.5; 187. Evan Bruce, 30:18.3.
