HANCEVILLE, Ala. — The Wallace State Community College Cross Country teams made strong showings this weekend at the National Junior College Athletic Association DII Cross Country Championships, competing in the largest fields of competitors in both meets. The men finished on the podium in third place and the women finished fourth, a best for both teams. The day before the race, first-year head coach Tony Crider was named the NJCAA Central Region Men’s and Women’s Coach of the Year.
In the men’s race, sophomore Luke Kennedy of Huntsville earned All-American status after finishing 10th overall with a time of 25:46.1, about 32 seconds after the top finisher in the 8K race.
Freshmen Anthony Tyler of Fort Payne and Daniel Leija of Albertville finished the race in 26th and 27th place, with times of 26:17.8 and 26:18.2, respectively. Sophomore David Robles of Springville (34th, 26:34.4), freshman Harper Branscome of Muscle Shoals (36th, 26:36.4), freshman Carson Masterson of Hatton (37th, 26:36.8) and freshman Elliot Denard of Springville (39th, 26:39.5) rounded out the field of Wallace State runners. The DII NJCAA Men’s Cross Country Championship saw 315 runners competing in the race held in Richmond, Va.
Sophomore Eden Brumer of Fort Thomas, Ky., led the WSCC women’s cross country team, finishing 27th among a field of 317 runners in the 5K race, with a time of 19:43.3. Freshman Raegan Parris of Bremen was not far behind at 29th, with a time of 19:44.4.
Sophomores Grace Gosline of Arab, (41st, 19:57.3), Abigale Vega of Fort Payne (53rd, 29:19.1), Claire Deaton of Madison (61st, 20:28.4) and Ivy Edge of Eva (66th, 20:33.9) and freshman Bernarda Tizapa-Robles of Cullman (104th, 21:20.09) rounded out the field for Wallace State runners.
“It takes the whole coaching staff, managers and team to do something like this,” said Crider. “I’m extremely proud of the commitment and discipline these athletes have shown through several months of training and competition.”
Crider is hopeful for the future of the teams and their motivation for next season.
“I think the experience and improvements they have made each year have given them a taste of what it’s like to win,” he said. “And in the years to come, I would hope they take this and move forward towards an eventual national championship for both teams.”
