Wednesday, August 31, 2005

 

TUSCULUM CROSS COUNTRY TEAMS OPEN SEASON SATURDAY

 

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- With the return of South Atlantic Conference Freshman of the Year Jamie Dyke and two-time All-SAC runner Ross Lewis, the Tusculum College cross country team opens the 2005 campaign this Saturday at the Eye Opener Invitational in Spartanburg, S.C.

Under the direction of first-year head coach Phil Roberts, the cross country squad returns eight letterwinners from last season (4 men, 4 women), while five newcomers will add depth to an already talent-laden squad.

 

MEN'S TEAM

 

                Ross Lewis, a senior from Morristown, Tenn., is looking to finish strong on one of the most decorated running careers in Tusculum history.  Lewis has claimed three individual titles during his career and was the Pioneers' top runner in the six races he ran in last year, including a third place finish at the Tusculum Invitational.  He also posted four top 20 outings.

                Wakefield, Mass. junior Scott Howard competed in all seven meets last season and recorded a pair of top 25 finishes.

                Also returning for the men's team are senior Dave Hileman and sophomore Thomas Whitley.  Hileman, a native of Castlewood, Va., is running in his fourth and final campaign.  He ran in six events last season and accounted for a top 25 finish.  Whitley, a product of Fayetteville, Ga., competed in five races as a freshman last year and finished 16th at the Tusculum Invitational.

                Three newcomers join the Tusculum men's squad in 2005 with the addition of freshmen Stephen Jones, Chris Haney and Richard Neese.

                Jones, who ran his prep career at Cocke County High School, brings an impressive resume with him to Tusculum.  The Newport, Tenn. native posted a time of 3:04 in this year's Boston Marathon.  The four-year letterman and team most valuable runner, owns a personal best time of 17:27 in the three mile run.

Haney, a native of Denver, N.C., was a four-time All-Conference runner at East Lincoln High School.  He was also named his team’s most valuable player on two occasions.  Neese (Huntsville, Ala.) earned three letters on the St. Bernard Prep cross country team.

 

WOMEN'S TEAM

 

                Jamie Dyke is expected to anchor the Tusculum women's team.  Dyke, a native of Newport, Tenn., enjoyed a sensational debut season as she recorded six top 10 performances, including her 11th place showing at the SAC Championships, earning her Freshman Runner of the Year honors.  She also finished 10th at the 2004 NCAA II Southeast Regional, earning her a spot on the All-Region Team.  Included in those six top 10 showings, four were in the top five.

                A pair of juniors also returns for the Pioneers.  Sarah Alston (Morristown, Tenn.) tallied five top 20 finishes in 2004, including a 20th place performance at the NCAA Regional.  Alston’s best finish came at the Tusculum Invitational where she finished fifth.  Ashley King competed in all seven meets for TC and finished in the top 30 on five occasions.  The Piney Flats, Tenn. Native finished seventh at the Tusculum Invitational and 15th at the Lenoir-Rhyne College Invitational.

                Sophomore Danielle Hutson looks to build upon a solid rookie season where she accounted for three top 40 outings.  The Kingsport, Tenn. product finished 10th at the Tusculum Invitational, 24th at the Maryville Invitational and 36th at the SAC Championship.

                Newcomers Alicja Dembna and Sarah Browning will be looking to help out the corps of veterans.                 

Dembna, a native of Poznan, Poland, finished 16th in the 1,500 meter run at the 2002 Polish National Championship.  Dembna has posted a personal best time of 4:58 in the 1,500 meter run.

Browning earned First Team All-State honors at Russell High School in Russell, Ky.  She was the 2004 Area Runner of the Year and was selected to the All-Area First Team.  Browning led her prep team to a third place regional finish, while finishing 10th in the State.

 

                Following this weekend's opening meet in Spartanburg, the Pioneers will host the 2005 Tusculum College Invitational at the Greene Valley Development Center.  The TC men and women's team will participate in six events, including the South Atlantic Conference Championship, hosted by Tusculum Oct. 22.

               

- TC -