HANCEVILLE, Ala. — Wallace State Community College’s men’s cross country team is ranked third nationally and the women are ranked seventh as the teams prepare for the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) DII tournament to be held Nov. 9 at at Pole Green Park in Richmond, Va. The men will run in the 8000 meter race, while the women will run in the 5000 meter race.
Both teams successfully defended their titles in the Alabama Community College Conference Championships held recently at John Hunt Park in Huntsville, each winning their seventh consecutive conference titles. Tony Crider, in his first year as head coach of the squads, was named Men’s Cross Country Coach of the Year.
“I like the position we are in right now and where we are ranked,” said Crider. “That puts a little more fire in our bellies. Sometimes you’ll do better when you’re hunting as opposed to other teams hunting you.”
The men have been led by ACCC Men’s Cross Country Runner of the Year Luke Kennedy of Huntsville. The sophomore has been the first team finisher in five of the six races the Lions have competed in this season. His average pace for the season is 3:17.9/km and 5:18.5/m. Freshman Tyler Anthony of Fort Payne has had strong showings as well, coming in as the second team finisher in five of the six races and as the first team finisher in the sixth. His average pace for the season is 3:20.7/km and 5:23.0/m.
The women have been led by freshman Reagan Parris and sophomore Grace Gosline. Parris ,of Bremen, has been the first team finisher in half of their six meets this season. Her pace for the season is 4:06.8/km and 6:37.1/m. Gosline, of Arab, was the first team finisher in the other half of the Lady Lions’ meets and has an average pace of 4:07.4/km and 6:38.2/m.
The NJCAA Network will air a live broadcast of the races at www.njcaa.org/network or live results can be viewed at www. https://www.blueridgetiming.com.
Following their national tournament appearances, the squads will compete in their first indoor races on Dec. 6 at the Birmingham Indoor Icebreaker at the Birmingham Crossplex.
