GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- The Tusculum University men's and women's cross country teams will be competing Saturday at the South Atlantic Conference Championship, which will be at The Farm in Newberry, South Carolina. The women will run their 6-kilometer event at 9 a.m., followed by the men's 8-kilometer run at 10:15 a.m.
MEN'S PREVIEW
Sophomore Simon Ray (Greeneville, Tenn.) has been the Pioneers' top finisher at each of the last three meets, placing sixth at Roane State and 19th at the Railsplitter Open. His best 8-kilometer time of the season was at the Brevard Classic when he was timed in 29:10.2. Ray placed 91st at the SAC Championship last season, with a time of 27:47.9.
Senior Ryan Drysch (Shorewood, Ill.) ran 86th at last year's SAC Championship in 27:07.3, and took 24th at Roane State earlier this season. His season-best time of 30:19.4 was at the Golden Eagle Invitational last weekend.
Freshman Levi Carson (Hammond, La.) turned in his top finish of the season at Roane State with a 14th-place showing, and his top time in the 8K was 29:39.3 at the Brevard Classic. Freshman Jack Watson (Collinsville, Ala.) had a best finish of 26th at Roane State, and ran 32:34.4 at the Brevard Classic, while freshman Konnor Weaver (West Alexandria, Ohio) finished 25th at Roane State in a time of 33:58.0, and posted a best time of 31:55.0 at the Brevard Classic.
The Pioneers finished eighth at last year's SAC Championship with 250 points, and were picked eighth in the conference preseason coaches poll.
WOMEN'S PREVIEW
Graduate student Tashianna Gray (Longview, Texas) has been Tusculum's top finisher in all four meets, highlighted by a victory at Roane State and two other top 20 finishes.
Graduate student Alayna Suitte (Knightdale, N.C.) posted a best finish of 14th place at Roane State, and ran a 6-kilometer time of 26:45.1 at the Golden Eagle Invitational. Graduate student Megan Humiston (Jacksonville, N.C.) took 13th place at Roane State and was timed in 27:56.1 in her lone 6K race at the Golden Eagle Invitational.
Junior Victoria Caliendo (Lake Villa, Ill.) is the lone Pioneer with SAC Championship experience, placing 92nd at last year's meet. She finished 16th at Roane State and ran 31:02.9 at the Golden Eagle Invitational.
Freshman Sofia Cuesta Fuoss (Erkrath, Germany) completed three meets, with a fifth-place showing at Roane State, while sophomore Sadie Blue (Lubbock, Texas) ran in three meets and had a 22nd-place result at Roane State.
Tusculum is coming off an eighth-place finish at last year's SAC Championship, and was selected eighth in the conference preseason poll.
