PINEVILLE, Ky. - With every Trojan runner significantly improving their time from a year ago, the Anderson men's cross country team finished third at the 2015 South Atlantic Conference Championship, hosted by Lincoln Memorial, at the Wasioto Winds Golf Course in Pineville, Ky. on Saturday.
Queens landed five runners in the top-10 to win the title, while Mars Hill's Alex Griggs was named the SAC Runner of the Year after completing the 8k course in 25:08.2, which was more than 10 seconds faster than anyone else in the competition.
The Royals, who had finished as runners-up to Mars Hill the last two years, earned the title by dethroning the 18-time defending champion Lions. For the first time in nearly two decades, the Lions had to settle for runner-up distinction. The Trojans, who have been ranked either ninth or 10th in the Southeast Region, bested eighth-ranked Lincoln Memorial for the third spot.
After capturing Second-Team All-SAC honors a year ago, sophomore Mason Hazel garnered First-Team accolades after finishing sixth in a time of 25:42.7, which was eight seconds faster than last year. Junior Ben Boerma earned Honorable Mention honors with an 18th-place finish in a time of 26:48.2, which was more than a minute faster than at last year's championship.
Junior Ned Kennedy crossed the line in 29th place by posting a time of 27:19.1, which was also more than a minute quicker, while junior Michael Burch slashed nearly two minutes off last years' time and finished 40th in a time of 27:35.0. Junior Jesse Patrick (28:21.1) was 62nd.
Next up for the Trojans is the NCAA Southeast Regional, which will be hosted by Wingate on Nov. 7.
SAC Men's Cross Country Runner of the Year:
Alex Griggs, Mars Hill
SAC Men's Cross Country Coach of the Year: Jim
Vahrenkamp, Queens
SAC Men's Cross Country Freshman of the Year: Jose
Rosas, Queens
All-SAC First Team
Alex Griggs, Mars Hill
Yannick Stubbe, Queens
Nepolian Patel, Wingate
David Jones, Mars Hill
Jimmy Hollingsworth, Queens
Mason Hazel, Anderson
Cesar Reyes, Mars Hill
All-SAC Second Team
Jose Rosas, Queens
Elijah Inuwa, Queens
Henno Havenga, Queens
Hassan Kiprono, Brevard
Lachlan Dickie, Carson-Newman
Ben Schmidt, Queens
Jacob Chebii, Coker
All-SAC Honorable Mention
Jerry Resor, Mars Hill
Jacob Troutman, Wingate
Brandon Beard, Mars Hill
Ben Boerma, Anderson
Avery Cypress, Queens
Blaine Benitez, Lincoln Memorial
Jorge Hernandez, Lincoln Memorial
All-Freshman Team
Jose Rosas, Queens
Elijah Inuwa, Queens
Ben Schmidt, Queens
Jacob Chebii, Coker
Jerry Resor, Mars Hill
