JEFFERSON CITY, Tenn. – Five South Atlantic Conference foes await the Carson-Newman cross country team Saturday morning at the Royal Cross Country Challenge in Charlotte, N.C.
Catawba, Coker, Mars Hill, Queens and Tusculum await the Eagles in the Queen City at McAlpine Creek Park.
"Right now, it's just a shotgun approach. We have just worked on this and on this and on this and it's all starting to come together," coach Tony Parrilla said. "Our main focus is for conference, but this right here is a really big step just so we can make sure that the workouts that we are doing have been right."
Last season, the men's team finished 20th with sophomore Nick Guerra (Richardson, Texas) posting the quickest time and sophomore Sara Honaker (Mason, Ohio) paced the women's team to a 22nd-place finish.
Last week at the Greater Louisville Cross Country Classic, freshman Lachlan Dickie (Knoxville, Tenn.) placed sixth in the third division, outpacing every other SAC runner in the division.
Freshman Tori Gaul and junior Hannah Kiser (Cedar Park, Texas) led the women's team in the Bluegrass State.
"Tori came in with the expectations that she wanted to be number one and she's really worked hard and that's exactly where she is, but number two is hungrier so we have a couple of girls that are ready to take that spot, but they are all working together so that is the good thing."
The Royal Cross Country Challenge will be run Saturday morning in Charlotte.
-CN-
_of_Mark_Edwards?max_width=280&max_height=160&crop=true)
