CHARLOTTE, N.C. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's cross country teams participated in their final tune-up race for the upcoming South Atlantic Conference Championships by competing at the Royals Challenge on Friday at McAlpine Park.
The Pioneers, who ran on the same course two weeks ago in the Queen City Invite, had four runners break 20 minutes in the women's 5K race and finished 19th out of 29 teams in the Gold standings with 515 points. The Tusculum men took 21st of 33 in the men's Gold standings with 605 points.
The McAlpine Park course will be the site of the SAC Cross Country Championships on Saturday, October 23.
WOMEN'S RECAP
Sophomore Emily Coddington was the top finisher for the Pioneers, nearly matching her 5-kilometer time from two weeks earlier with a time of 18:45.5. Sophomore Judy Chellah knocked nearly a minute off her Queen City time nad finished 119th overall at 19:27.6, while freshman Nicole Griffith was 137th overall in 19:35.7. Grad student Javiera Ortiz ran nearly identical to her Queen City time, finishing 156th in 19:56.4, while freshman Celine McNally placed 182nd overall in 20:23.2.
Cedarville University had four top-10 finishers and won the team title with 38 points, followed by Milligan with 95 and College of Charleston at 153. Mackenna Curtis-Collins of Malone was the medalist in 16:59.5, finishing four seconds ahead of unattached runner Shelby Nolan and eight seconds better than Lara Orrock of Wingate, who took third.
MEN'S RECAP
Senior Alex Perez, who set the school 8-kilometer record at 24:43 at the Queen City Invite, finished 67th overall with a time of 24:56.2. Sophomore Ray Richardson shaved more than a minute off his Queen City time and was 133rd overall in 25:51.0, followed by junior Caleb Archer in 156th place at 26:08.6. Freshman Bryson Livesay was 191st overall and was clocked in 26:38.4, with freshman Graham Aitken knocking 45 seconds off his time from Queen City as he finished 214th in 26:58.5.
Junior Antonio Aparicio was 216th overall at 27:01.9, followed by freshman Gideon Dowling in 227th place at 27:11.6. Senior Carson Walls was timed in 27:13.4 and was 231st overall, trailed by freshman Evan Bruce in 262nd place at 28:01.1 and freshman Irving Medina in 292nd place in 29:09.8. There were 337 runners who finished the race.
Charleston (W.Va.) had four top-10 runners and claimed the team title with 42 points, with Wake Forest in 2nd at 123 points and Wingate third with 133 points. Unattached runner Coen Roberts won the men's race in 23:22.7, beating Matthew Forrester of Charleston by five seconds.
Royals Cross Country Challenge
at Charlotte, N.C.
WOMEN
Team scores: 1. Cedarville 38; 2. Milligan 95; 3. College of Charleston 153; 4. Davidson 161; 5. Malone 171; 19. Tusculum 515.
Tusculum results: 67. Emily Coddington, 18:45.5; 119. Judy Chellah, 19:27.6; 137. Nicole Griffith, 19:35.7; 156. Javiera Ortiz, 19:56.4; 182. Celine McNally, 20:23.2; Erin Bruce, DNF.
MEN
Team scores: 1. Charleston (WV) 42; 2. Wake Forest 123; 3. Wingate 133; 4. Milligan 136; 5. Cedarville 165; 21. Tusculum 605.
Tusculum results: 67. Alex Perez, 24:56.2; 133. Ray Richardson, 25:51.0; 156. Caleb Archer, 26:08.6; 191. Bryson Livesay, 26:38.4; 214. Graham Aitken, 26:58.5; 216. Antonio Aparicio, 27:01.9; 227. Gideon Dowling, 27:11.6; 231. Carson Walls, 27:13.4; 262. Evan Bruce, 28:01.1; 292. Irving Medina, 29:09.8.
