GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Behind the leadership of first-year head coach Suzanne Byrd and four seniors, the Tusculum College cross country team will open its season Friday afternoon at the Stampede at the Shoals in Elizabethton, Tenn.

This year's roster features four letter-winners from last season, including seniors Simon Holzapfel, Jessica Figler, Ben Hale and Jason Seaton

Holzapfel, a native of Nuremburg, Germany, is wrapping up one of the most decorated harrier careers in school history. The 2009 South Atlantic Conference Runner of the Year has already captured a school-record, 10 individual titles, while also posting the eight fastest 8,000-meter times ever by a Pioneer. The two-time All-Region and All-Conference runner won his first five events last season, including first place honors at the Stampede with a 6K time of 19:12.

Holzapfel also shined in the classroom, earning ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America® distinction the last two years, including First Team honors last season. He was also named the SAC Scholar Athlete for Men's Cross Country in 2009, while posting a perfect 4.00 cumulative grade point average.

Figler, a native of Merritt Island, Fla., recorded three top-20 performances last season. She finished sixth at the Virginia-Wise Invitational with a 5K time of 26:30. Figler also placed 20th at the Stampede at the Shoals (20:22.4 - 4K) and the Trailblazer Invitational (26:34.54 - 5K),

Hale will also be competing in his final Tusculum campaign. The 5-10, 160-pound Morristown, Tenn. native competed in all six events last season, recording three top-30 outings. He placed seventh at the Virginia-Wise Invitational (19:25 - 5K) and 18th at the Trailblazer Invitational (31:20.32 - 8K).

Seaton, a native of Midway, Tenn., has competed in 14 events during his collegiate career. He finished 11th at last year's Virginia-Wise Invitational (25:01 - 5K) and 27th at the Trailblazer Invitational (40:31.36 - 8K).

Nine newcomers will be representing the program this season, including five on the women's team and four on the men's.

Jenny Grant brings a solid resume with her from her prep career at Battle Ground Academy. She was a two-time recipient of the Cross Country Leadership Award and the Track & Field Coach's Award at BGA. She has posted a personal best time of 5.56 in the 1,600 meters and 13:17 in the 3,200 meters.

Greeneville, Tenn. freshman Ashley Andrukonis ran her prep career at South Greene High School, while rookies Kim Brown (Scarborough, Ontario, Canada/Davis & Elkins College/Pope John Paul II HS), Ariana Sigmon (Myrtle Beach, S.C./St. James HS) and Jamie Smith (Welland, Ontario, Canada/Lakeshore Catholic HS) will also be competing in their first Tusculum seasons this year.

Ryan Badertscher, a Marion, Ohio native, earned Most Valuable Runner honors at River Valley High School. He also earned All-District and All-Conference accolades, while leading River Valley to a District runner-up performance and qualified for the Regional Meet.

Nathan Carver, a junior from Clarksville, Tenn., will be competing in his first Tusculum campaign for the Black & Orange as will Greeneville, Tenn. junior Chad Shelton, who graduated from Chuckey-Doak High School and is a member of the Tusculum baseball team.

Sophomore Stephen Kinunda, a native of Nairobi, Kenya, lettered at Okemos High School in Michigan, where he was a member of the cross country and track & field programs.

The Pioneers will compete in five regular season events, culminating to the Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Championship on Nov. 6 in Wingate, N.C. The NCAA II Southeast Regional will be held in Charlotte, N.C. on Nov. 20, with the NCAA National Championship held in Louisville, Ky. on Dec. 4.

- TC -