NEWTON, N.C. – Senior Luke Greer (Abington, Northhampton, United Kingdom) came in second place at the South Atlantic Conference Championships on Saturday morning, the men's team placed seventh overall and the women's team came in eighth place during the conference meet.
"I'm proud of the way both teams performed today," Carson-Newman head cross country coach Tyler Stepp said. "It was the fastest eight-kilometer average for the men in recent memory and it was the fastest five person five-kilometer average for the women as well."
Greer completed the eight-kilometer race in a time of 24:39.21 just 11 seconds behind Queens senior Tom Bains. The senior from the United Kingdom was the first Eagle runner to finish inside the top-three at the SAC Championships in recent memory. Greer was named to the First-Team All-SAC team for his efforts at the meet.
"This race sets Luke up very well for the regional meet coming up in a few weeks." Stepp replied, "Luke has a good chance of moving on to nationals in a few weeks."
Coming behind Greer was freshman runner Kelvin Ronoh (Kenya) finished the race with a time of 25:54.77 which was good enough for a 15th place finish. Ronoh was named to both the All-Freshman and Honorable Mention SAC-Team's. Last season Amos Korir (Eldoret, Kenya) made the all-freshman team for the Eagles.
Korir finished the race in 19th place and came with Honorable Mention All-SAC honors. The native of Kenya improved by one place from last year's SAC Championships. It was the first time that the Eagles placed three runners inside the top-20 in a conference meet in at least a decade.
Anthony Jackson (Manchester, Tenn.) was the next runner to cross the line for the Eagles. Jackson finished in 59th place matching his finish from his freshman season. Cameron McKinley finished the race with a time of 29:11.47 coming in 77th place.
Rounding out the men's cross country team was Jared Eddy (Harrison, Tenn.) and Jeremiah McCarter (Sevierville, Tenn.). The two finished the race in 89th and 90th place respectively.
Queens University of Charlotte won the championship for the second time in three seasons. The Royals placed seven runners inside the top-12 of the event.
"It was a tough day scoring for the women as they finished six-points out of fifth place after finishing in fifth last season." Stepp responded, "But overall they ran fast and set new personal records today at the meet. I could not have been more proud of them today."
The women's team was led by junior runner Priscah Jemeli (Eldoret, Kenya) who was named to the Honorable Mention All-SAC team for finishing in 21st place. It is the third time this season the junior has been the pace runner for the Eagles.
Senior Kathie O'Neill (Sevierville, Tenn.) was the second Eagle across the finish line with a time of 19:44.41. The time was good enough for a top-30 finish. It was the first time all season that the senior runner finished in the top-three for the Eagle women's squad.
A few moments later Bekah White (Rockford, Tenn.) and Lindsey Williams (Wilmington, N.C.) crossed the finish line for the Eagles. White shaved off 49 seconds from her overall time last season, with a time of 20:09.14. Williams finished with a time of 20:23.70 placing her in 47th place.
Skye McCarter (Sevierville, Tenn.) finished in 56th place, while senior's Sarah Sharp (Lewis Center, Ohio.) and Jennifer Warren (Piney Flats, Tenn.) finished in 61st and 68th place respectively. Ashlyn Page (Knoxville, Tenn.) and Esther Njeri (Eldoret, Kenya.) rounded out the race for the Eagles finishing in 71st and 82nd place.
Queens University won their second consecutive South Atlantic Conference title on Saturday morning. The Royals had two of the top-three finishers in the race.
The Eagles next race will be on November 4, at the Southeast Regional Championships.
Women's Results:
Standing |
School Name |
Total Points |
1st |
Queens |
36 |
2nd |
Anderson |
59 |
3rd |
Wingate |
68 |
4th |
Catawba |
161 |
5th |
Lincoln Memorial |
171 |
6th |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
172 |
7th |
Tusculum |
175 |
8th |
Carson-Newman |
178 |
9th |
Coker |
254 |
10th |
Mars Hill |
285 |
11th |
Newberry |
295 |
Honorable Mention All-SAC:
Allyson Arellano, Queens
Mandi Moxie, Queens
Haley Schaeffer, Queens
Tabea Kandlbauer, LMU
Gabriela Lademarco, Queens
Alissa Furches, Tusculum
Priscah Jemeli, Carson-Newman
Carson-Newman Individual:
Name |
Place |
Time |
21 |
19:30.83 |
|
30 |
19:44.41 |
|
43 |
20:09.14 |
|
47 |
20:23.70 |
|
56 |
20:57.84 |
|
61 |
21:07.26 |
|
68 |
21:39.21 |
|
71 |
21:53.47 |
|
82 |
22:46.07 |
Men's Results:
Standing |
School Name |
Total Points |
1st |
Queens |
23 |
2nd |
Wingate |
88 |
3rd |
Anderson |
95 |
4th |
Lincoln Memorial |
122 |
5th |
Lenoir-Rhyne |
135 |
6th |
Mars Hill |
151 |
7th |
Carson-Newman |
158 |
8th |
Catawba |
188 |
9th |
Tusculum |
219 |
10th |
Coker |
280 |
11th |
Newberry |
288 |
All-SAC First Team:
Tom Bains, Queens (Runner of The Year)
Luke Greer, Carson-Newman
Daniel Wallis, Queens
Nick Kipkemei, Queens
Mason Hazel, Anderson
Felix Wammetsberger, Queens
Micah Kipchumba, Wingate
Honorable Mention All-SAC:
Kelvin Ronoh, Carson-Newman
Corbin Boyles, Lenoir-Rhyne
Garrett Farrimond, Mars Hill
Jacob Black, Lenoir-Rhyne
Amos Korir, Carson-Newman
Weston Hutto, Anderson
Jacob Gatewood, LMU
SAC All-Freshman Team:
Nick Kipkemei, Queens (Freshman of The Year)
Felix Wammetsberger, Queens
Micah Kipchumba, Wingae
Ben Clark, Anderson
Kelvin Ronoh, Carson-Newman
Carson-Newman Individual:
Name |
Place |
Time |
2nd |
24:39.21 |
|
15th |
25:54.77 |
|
19th |
26:10.47 |
|
59th |
28:06.43 |
|
77th |
29:11.47 |
|
89th |
32:14.20 |
|
90th |
32:33.01 |
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