NEWTON, N.C. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's cross country teams competed at the South Atlantic Conference Championship on Saturday, held at Southside Park.
Both the Pioneer men and women finished in eighth place out of 13 teams, with senior Emily Coddington the top women's finisher in 10th place and freshmen Pau Valdepenas and Sam Shipp each claiming top-30 finishers for the Pioneer men.
Tusculum will begin preparation for the NCAA Division II Southeast Regional Championship, which will be held Saturday, Nov. 4 in Oakwood, Georgia.
MEN'S RECAP
Valdepenas earned a spot on the SAC All-Freshman team as he took 25th overall in the 8-kilometer race with a time of 24:23.25, just ahead of Shipp who was 26th in 24:23.44. Senior Antonio Aparicio was 76th in 26:36.27, while sophomore Jerry Ricker and junior Ryan Drysch finished back-to-back in 85th and 86th place. Ricker was timed in 27:05.50 while Drysch crossed the line in 27:07.25.
Freshman Simon Ray was 91st overall at 27:47.88, and junior Landen Locklear was the final finisher for the Pioneers as he was 108th in a time of 32:40.79.
Wingate had six of the top eight finishers, including meet winner Jakob Rettschlag, and took the team title with 20 points. Catawba was second with 59 points, followed by Anderson in third with 110. Tusculum's 250 points placed them between seventh-place Emory & Henry (215 points) and ninth-place Mars Hill (269) in the final standings.
WOMEN'S RECAP
Coddington ran 21:17.00 for the 6 kilometers, putting her in 10th place overall and second among runners not from the top two finishing teams (Wingate and Catawba) and earning second-team All-SAC honors. Sophomore Inmaculada Delgado was 44th in 23:09.08, with senior Judy Chellah placing 78th in 26:06.64. Sophomore Victoria Caliendo finished 92nd overall in 29:21.48, with junior Silvia Bah in 98th place with a time of 36:31.89.
Catawba had the top two finishers, including race winner Madison Clay who was timed in 20:25.32, but Wingate had five in the top 10 to win the team title with 33 points. Catawba was second with 61 points, and Lenoir-Rhyne took third at 101 points. Tusculum had 274 points as a team, putting them between seventh-place Emory & Henry (212) and ninth-place Limestone (284).
South Atlantic Conference Cross Country Championship
at Southside Park - Newton, N.C.
MEN'S RESULTS
Tusculum finishers: 25. Pau Valdepenas, 24:23.25; 26. Sam Shipp, 24:23.44; 76. Antonio Aparicio, 26:36.27; 85. Jerry Ricker, 27:05.50; 86. Ryan Drysch, 27:07.25; 91. Simon Ray, 27:47.88; 108. Landen Locklear, 32:40.79.
Team standings: 1. Wingate 20; 2. Catawba 59; 3. Anderson 110; 4. Lenoir-Rhyne 133; 5. Lincoln Memorial 151; 6. Carson-Newman 185; 7. Emory & Henry 215; 8. Tusculum 250; 9. Mars Hill 269; 10. Limestone 273; 11. Newberry 274; 12. UVA Wise 296; 13. Coker 394.
WOMEN'S RESULTS
Tusculum finishers: 10. Emily Coddington, 21:17.00; 44. Inmaculada Delgado, 23:09.08; 78. Judy Chellah, 26:06.64; 92. Victoria Caliendo, 29:21.48; 98. Silvia Bah, 36:31.89.
Team standings: 1. Wingate 33; 2. Catawba 61; 3. Lenoir-Rhyne 101; 4. Anderson 104; 5. Lincoln Memorial 117; 6. Carson-Newman 137; 7. Emory & Henry 212; 8. Tusculum 274; 9. Limestone 284; 10. Newberry 291; 11. Mars Hill 299; 12. UVA Wise 318; 13. Coker 374.
