JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Carson-Newman's cross country teams will compete in the South Atlantic Conference Championship meet Saturday in Black Mountain, N.C.
Carson-Newman is coming off a meet at the Royals Pre-Region Challenge where every runner on both the men's and women's teams posted their best times in collegiate competition this season.
"Cross country's so simple. There's a distance and a time," Parrilla said. "Our kids grind and grind and grind. Our kids go into each meet with a really positive attitude and it's starting to show in our results."
The men's team was picked preseason no. 12, but has finished in front of five other South Atlantic Conference teams in various meets through the fall of 2013.
"Our season starts at the conference meet," Parrilla said. "We've said that from the start of the season. I've the last few races we haven't had everybody healthy, but now we do and that makes me very excited."
Sara Honaker leads the women's team with a season best 20:22 in the 5k at the Royals' Pre-Region Challenge. A pair freshman, Joshua Marsh and Nick Guerra, are at the top of the table for the men's team – but not without issue. Marsh has suffered from a variety of in-race maladies through the season, which, according to Parrilla, include, attacks from "ninja trees," bee stings and lost shoes. Those bizarre occurrences not withstanding, Parrilla said the Eagles have improved mightily through the year.
"They're doing everything we're asking them to," Parrilla said. "And as a coach, I just couldn't be happier."
This year's championship will take place on the campus of Montreat College with the women's race beginning at 9 a.m. The men's race will follow at approximately 10:15 a.m.
-CN-
