MORRISTOWN, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's cross country teams defeated Walters State Community College and Maryville College in a three-way meet Friday afternoon on the Walters State course.
Sophomore Ray Richardson won the men's race as Tusculum had seven of the top eight finishers, while all six Pioneer women's runners were in the top eight to give Tusculum the victory.
The Pioneers will run their final regular-season event next Friday, Oct. 8 at the Royals Challenge in Charlotte, North Carolina.
MEN'S RECAP
Richardson covered the eight-kilometer course in 32:05.27 to win by 46 seconds over teammate Caleb Archer, who was second in 32:51.76. Senior Alex Perez, who set the school 8K record last week at the Queen City Invite, cruised to a third-place finish in 32:52.02, with freshman Gideon Dowling giving the Pioneers a sweep of the top four positions with a time of 32:59.66.
Taking sixth place for the Pioneers was senior Carson Walls, who ran 33:19.96. Freshman Evan Bruce took seventh overall in 33:41.70, and freshman Bryson Livesay was the final runner for Tusculum in eighth place at 33:41.95. A total of 19 runners competed in the event.
Tusculum had a team score of 16 points, with Walters State at 50 points and Maryville with 75 points.
WOMEN'S RECAP
Tusculum claimed second through six place behind race winner Lilly Simms of Maryville, who crossed the line in 22:38.49 for the five-kilometer race. Freshman Nicole Griffith was second in 22:52.51, followed by grad student Javiera Ortiz in third at 23:54.71.
Taking fourth place was sophomore Emily Coddington with a time of 23:54.95, followed closely by sophomore Judy Chellah in fifth (23:55.18) and junior Erin Bruce in sixth (23:55.45). Finishing in eighth place for the Pioneers was freshman Celine McNally, with a time of 24:46.00.
Tusculum's 20 points as a team put the Pioneers ahead of Maryville (50 points) and Walters State (58).
at Walters State
MEN: Tusculum 16, Walters State 50, Maryville 75
Tusculum finishers: 1. Ray Richardson, 32:05.27; 2. Caleb Archer, 32:51.76; 3. Alex Perez, 32:52.02; 4. Gideon Dowling, 32:59.66; 6. Carson Walla, 3319.96; 7. Evan Bruce, 33:41.70; 8. Bryson Livesay, 33:41.95.
WOMEN: Tusculum 20, Maryville 50, Walters State 58
Tusculum finishers: 2. Nicole Griffith, 22:52.51; 3. Javiera Ortiz, 23:54.71; 4. Emily Coddington, 23:54.95; 5. Judy Chellah, 23:55.18; 6. Erin Bruce, 23:55.45; 8. Celine McNally, 24:46.00.
