Release Link: https://usasouth.net/sports/mxc/2019-20/releases/20191025dvua7l

Photo Gallery:  https://clewisncwc.smugmug.com/11-2-19-NCWC-Cross-Country/

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. - The 2019 USA South Men's Cross Country Championship took place on Saturday, November 2 on the campus of North Carolina Wesleyan College in Rocky Mount,. Berea College, KY captured the USA South championship for the third consecutive year. The Mountaineers bested Covenant and Piedmont which finished in a second place tie by 55 points. Individually, Berea's Logan McKenzie won the meet as he finished the 8,000-meter course first in a time of 25:27.

NC Wesleyan was led by junior Christian Tippette who placed 12th overall running a season-best time of 26:51 to make the All-Conference Second Team. He helped the Bishops to a 5th place team finish tying last year's result and were just 9 points away from 4th place Methodist.

Junior Andrew Bowen then made the All-Conference Third team by placing 21st overall with a time of 27:06. All-Sportsmanship winner, freshman Philly Barungi, then finished 3rd on Wesleyan's team and 39th overall with a time of 28:16 while sophomore Connor Hayes finished right behind in 41st place with a time of 28:22. Sophomore Maleik Small then wrapped up the scoring for the Bishops coming in 46th in a time of 28:35, five seconds ahead of sophomore teammate Keyonte Williams who finished 47th in a PR time of 28:40.

Leading the next group of Bishops was sophomore Terenthen Parker placing 54th in 29:33 while he was immediately followed by freshman Menwuyelet Tekelemariam in 29:36. Freshman Mamoon Hassan then placed next in 61st in a time of 30:21 while he was followed by sophomore Jeshon Smith in 30:22. Junior Tyler Bird then finished 75th in 31:59 with freshman Yisrael Yisrael also running a time of 36:06.

"Today we saw Christian continue on his quest to be a Hall of Famer at NC Wesleyan," said coach Marshall Leonard. "He finished with a 2nd all-time best 8K time (behind Hall-of-famer Wallace Johnson)." 

"He was being chased down by his super competitive teammate, Bowen, who continues to run faster every week. We also saw Keyonte run a PR and jump into the ALL-Time Top 10 NCWC runners," continued Leonard.

"We talk about constantly getting better and learning from previous experiences and this group of athletes have really grabbed onto that, and improved all season," continued Leonard. "I am honored to be a coach of so many great student-athletes. Not only do they study hard, they race hard, and they are they nicest people you will ever meet."

The Bishops will next run in the regional tournament on Nov. 16 in Memphis, TN.

2019 USA South Men's Cross Country Team Results: