RESULTS
CLINTON, Miss. – For the fourth straight year, the Lee University Men's Cross Country team claimed the Gulf South Conference Men's Cross Country Championship. The Flames placed six runners in the top 20 on their way to recording a team score of 49. Host Mississippi College was second with 56 points and Alabama Huntsville was third at 63.
"We knew it was going to be tight," admitted Lee head coach Caleb Morgan. "This group of men are a family and they ran like it today. They fought for each other out on the course."
For the second straight year, Christian Noble finished as the individual medalist. Noble is the 10
th runner in GSC history to win two straight titles. He covered the 8K distance in 24:51.18 and won by almost 21 seconds. Jakob Bernal of West Alabama was second at 25:12.01.
"Noble looked smooth today," praised Morgan. "We had him run conservatively to stay rested for regionals in two weeks. He is going to do something special at nationals this year."
Caleb Eagleson placed eighth (25:32.99) with Jared Herzog right behind in ninth (25:38.08). Casey Guthery and Dawson Reed completed the Lee scorers. Guthery crossed the finish line in 13
th (25:51.16), while Reed was 18
th (25:58.59).
Ben Tabor and Moises Ponce were the Lee spacers. Tabor's time of 26:01.56 put him in 20
th. Ponce finished 25
th in the field of 99 with a time of 26:18.10.
Ben Gilman and Silas Eckenroad were the final Lee runners. Gilman posted a time of 26:26.43, while Eckenroad gave the Flames nine runners in the top 33 with a mark of 26:33.74.
"I don't want to call out many individuals because this was truly a team effort, but I would like to recognize Jared Herzog and Casey Guthery. Both guys put in a phenomenal amount of work over the summer to become the runners they are now. Without their massive improvements this season, today wouldn't have been possible," Morgan added.
The Flames will have a week off from competition before heading to the NCAA Division II South Region Championships on November 17. The men's 10K race will be held at Holloway Park in Lakeland, Fla.
