Greer advances to Nationals, men finish in 12th place while women finish in 14th
Luke Greer (Abington, Northhampton, United Kingdom) is the first men’s cross country runner in at least a decade to qualify for the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships on Saturday morning in Wingate, N.C.
VIDEO: Luke Greer 4th Place Finish at Southeast Regionals
WINGATE, N.C. – Luke Greer (Abington, Northhampton, United Kingdom) is the first men's cross country runner in at least a decade to qualify for the NCAA Division II National Cross Country Championships on Saturday morning in Wingate, N.C.
"I believe that he has enough left in the tank to have strong showing at Natioinals." Carson-Newman head cross country Tyler Stepp said, "He is unbelivable and the bigger the meet the better he runs, he has a lot of potetional and I believe that he can be an All-American. I am super impressed with how smart he is at running. I am really proud of what him and assistant coach Christian Brewer have done for this program to turn it around."
Both the men's and women's teams improved upon their overall standings from last season. In 2016 the men's team finished in 19th place overall and this season they improved to 12th overall. The women's team placed 17th last season and improved three spots this season by finishing 14th overall. The top South Atlantic Conference school to finish the meet was conference champion Queens University (N.C.)
"Everybody competed well," Stepp responded. "It was the first time all season that we raced at these two distances and they did a great job."
Greer completed the 10-kilometer course in a time of 31:35.44 which placed him fourth in the Southeast Regional Meet. The senior runner has placed in the top-five of every event he has run this season. The United Kingdom native also earned All-Southeast Region honors for his efforts in the race on Saturday morning.
Coming in behind Greer were fellow All-SAC performers Kelvin Ronoh and Amos Korir. The duo placed 30th and 31st respectively. The top trio of Greer, Ronoh and Korir have finished in the top-three of every event for the Eagles this season.
"They ran hard and missed All-Region by five or six places and I am really proud of them." Stepp said, "Anthony Jackson did great for a guy that is used to running the 800-meters and Cameron McKinley stepped up as our fifth runner."
Anthony Jackson (Manchester, Tenn.) was the next Eagle to cross the finish line with a time of 37:24.69. The time placed Jackson with a 121st place finish in the competition. Cameron McKinley followed Jackson across the finish line shortly after with a 136th overall finish in the race.
Rounding out the race for the men's team was Jared Eddy (Harrison, Tenn.) and Jeremiah McCarter (Sevierville, Tenn.) both of whom completed the race in under 45 minutes.
Priscah Jemeli (Eldoret, Kenya) was once again the pace runner for the Eagles team. Jemeli ran the course in a time of 25:02.37, it was the third time this season the native of Kenya led the team. Bekah White (Rockford, Tenn.) finished second on the team with a time of 25:14.76. White has finished in the top-three on the team in every event this season for the Eagles.
"The women's team once again did a great job of running in a pack style." Stepp said, "Priscah was once again the lead runner for the women's team followed by Bekah White and Lindsey Williams."
Coming in at 83rd and 84th place was Lindsey Williams (Wilmington, N.C.) and Kathie O'Neill (Sevierville, Tenn.). Williams has been a solid runner for the Eagles this season, finishing in the top-three of every event this season. O'Neill in just her second race back from injury finished fourth on the team.
Skye McCarter (Sevierville, Tenn.) and Jennifer Warren (Piney Flats, Tenn.) were the next pair of Eagle runners to cross the line. McCarter finished with a time of 26:26.85 which placed her at 107th in the race. Warren finished 27:34.60 to place 124th in the meet. Ashlyn Page (Knoxville, Tenn.) was the final Eagle runner to cross the finish line with a time of 28:34.57.
Greer will competed in the National Cross Country Championships in Evansville, IN on November 18, 2017.
Women's Results:
|
Name |
Place |
Time |
|
66th |
25:02.37 |
|
|
77th |
25:14.76 |
|
|
83rd |
25:25.56 |
|
|
84th |
25:26.25 |
|
|
107th |
26:25.85 |
|
|
124th |
27:34.60 |
|
|
137th |
28:34.57 |
Men's Results:
|
Name |
Place |
Time |
|
4th |
31:35.44 |
|
|
30th |
33:24.04 |
|
|
31st |
33:27.54 |
|
|
121st |
37:24.69 |
|
|
136th |
39:07.95 |
|
|
149th |
42:29.70 |
|
|
150th |
42:48.04 |
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