EVANSVILLE, IND. – Luke Greer (Abington, Northhampton, United Kingdom) finished the 2017 cross country season with a 42nd place finish in the NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships.
"We are absolutely thrilled with the way that Luke ran today." Carson-Newman cross country coach Tyler Stepp said, "He ran a perfect race and the places just didn't fall for him today."
Greer, was the first Carson-Newman men's cross country runner to make it to the Cross Country Championships since the 2005 season. That year Ryan Althaus finished in 79th place with a time of 34:09. The senior from the United Kingdom finished the 10-kilometer course in a time of 32:00.
Greer, had one of the best season's in recent memory for the men's cross country team. The senior started off the season with wins at the Tusculum Open, Asheville Cross Country Invitational and the Allen and Phyllis Morgan Invitational battle at Mossy Creek.
The United Kingdom native also finished second at the South Atlantic Conference Championships. The senior was just 11-seconds behind Queens University (N.C.) runner Tom Bains. At the NCAA Southeast Regional Championships Greer finished in fourth place, behind fellow SAC runner Nick Kipkemei of Queens. In each race this season Greer has set new personal records in the five-kilometer distance (15:10.0), eight-kilometer distance (24:39.21) and the ten-kilometer distance (31:35.44).
"We are bummed for him, not getting to make All-American status," Stepp replied. "He finished around where we thought he would finish and he was the top runner from our conference today. We are proud of him for the way that he competed today against National competition."
The senior missed out on All-American status by seven seconds but he was the top South Atlantic Conference runner in the meet. Felix Wammetsberger of Queens finished right behind Greer in 44th place with a time of 32:03.5. Queens placed 6th overall in the team competition just ahead of Colorado State-Pueblo and Augustana (S.D.).
James Ngandu of Tiffin University won the individual National Championship with a time of 30:18.8. Ngandu lead the race from beginning to end and finished 34 seconds ahead of Grand Valley St runner Zach Panning. Adams State went back-to-back winning the team championship ahead of Grand Valley St. Adams State has now won 8 of the past 10 National Championships. The Grizzlies have not finished outside the top-two since the 2002 cross country season.
Greer will take a few weeks off and then get ready for the Eagles indoor track season. More information on the Carson-Newman cross country teams and track and field teams can be found at cneagles.com
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